SUCCESSIVE PPP/C Governments have faced the vengeful wrath of a vindictive, anti-developmental, power-crazy, power-drunk political Opposition hell-bent on a climb to self-aggrandisement, even if it meant destroying the country and the socio-economic gains subsequent to elections of 5th October, 1992.

The Donald Ramotar Government has had to contend with the worst administrative construct, hampered by a vindictive Opposition that, whether fraudulently or not, acquired a joint 6 votes/1 seat majority in Parliament.

Even while President Ramotar continually attempted to engage the puerile joint Opposition in efforts to reach consensual positions on policies and developmental programmes, he has refused to be railroaded by the Opposition’s threats and anti-democratic actions in and out of Parliament, although he has always been prepared to be accommodating of all stakeholders in the national interest.

As the first Guyanese President to be challenged with a Parliament that has collective Opposition majority, and which has proven so far to be recalcitrant and power-crazy, showing scant regard for the national good, President Ramotar had not lost his affable disposition and it is quite evident that nothing can shake his equanimity in the pursuit of, nor his commitment to, his development agenda.

The President made it clear, on numerous occasions, that he is quite prepared to work with an Opposition parliamentary majority for the national good.

That the joint Opposition achieved a majority in Parliament, whether legitimately or otherwise, is moot and initially inconsequential to him as his intentions have always been to lead a Government that was inclusive of all stakeholders because he was aware, as all PPP/C Presidents before him were, that this was the only way for this country to realise its optimum potential for development.

However, the joint Opposition seems hell-bent on a destructive path that would stymie national development because this would make the Donald Ramotar administration seem inefficient and ineffective; especially if there are delays to the start-up, or continuation of projects in the pipeline, or those already on stream.
When a Carl Greenidge can challenge an Ashni Singh on the national budget in years of stable macro-economic fundamentals and sustained economic growth, especially in view of their well-documented respective track records – one for completely destroying the country’s economy and one for steering the nation’s economy on a trajectory of growth; and, through the theatrics of his comrades in parliament, impede the progress in the country – so ably charted by former PPP/C Presidents, then Guyana’s National Assembly had been converted into a dysfunctional Parliament that had become the laughing stock of the world.

President Ramotar chose the option to exercise his constitutional power and prorogue Parliament, which had proven, time again, that it cannot deal with matters that are of outmost importance to the nation with the good of the people taking precedence over the joint Opposition’s aggrandised gimmickries that have held the people of this country to ransom for the entire duration of his Presidency.

The Opposition’s scornful dismissal of the statement made by the President in a recent address to the nation, whereby he explained his options if the Opposition proceeded with its ‘no confidence’ theatrics as “cowardly” and dubbing the PPP as being “weak and fearful” was answered commandingly and confidently as the President displayed the strength of his office and refused the people’s business to be forced to an abrupt halt by the grandstanding of an unpatriotic Opposition cabal who only crave power; so much so that they committed the ultimate folly and threatened the nation’s future development in the most dastardly way – by silencing the people’s voice in the bastion of democracy – the National Assembly.
There can be no sustained growth and development with bitter, antipathetic men who crave the highest office in the land, continually agitating – in and out of Parliament on one nebulous issue after another, while the nation’s business takes a backseat. However, even within this equation the Donald Ramotar administration has forged on, trying to meld all stakeholders in one common progressive unit.
Until two bitter men who covet the highest office in the land, so much so that they are continually spitting venom at the party that moulded their political and social growth; and their former comrades, decided to commit murder – kill the tenth Parliament, thus bringing the nation’s business to an abrupt halt.
However, in so doing they have committed political hara-kiri, because no self-respecting Head-of-State could allow that to happen and jeopardise developmental continuity, which would be threatened at every level if the country had faced such an eventuality, among a plethora of negative consequences and effects to the future prosperity of Guyana. So the President of Guyana, the most affable and tolerant Donald Ramotar, was forced into opting for Prorogation, rather than Dissolution of Parliament.
His decision will allow the people’s business to continue – hopefully unimpeded by further Opposition destructive and anti-developmental ploys, for another six months; and then elections would have to be called within three months thereafter.
It is to be hoped that the people will collectively make wise decisions at the polls this time around and never again put their future progress and prosperity, and that of their children, at risk by placing confidence in so-called leaders who only see them as collateral to their achieving power and accessing the national treasury.
But even as the Government continues its path whereby the Guyanese nation would be provided opportunities for sustained upward mobility, the hungry jackals are gathering to devour the nation, with Moses Nagamootoo, as happened in Linden and Agricola, openly threatening violence – pitting Guyanese against Guyanese as he warns about “aggressive expression”. Rupert Roopnarine, David Granger and other Opposition leaders are also beating their war drums.
In or out of Parliament these so-called, self-appointed ‘leaders’ can only plan and implement destruction and mayhem in the country. Guyana is on the cusp of great achievements, but whether the wolves in sheep’s clothing posturing as ‘leaders’ will allow this nation to achieve its maximum potential in peace is doubtful.