THE rationale for President Donald Ramotar’s decision to prorogue Parliament has gained the support of the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Blue CAPS, although the move itself was considered not the best option by the group. 

And in a statement released to the press yesterday, the NGO called for local political parties to work within a framework of negotiation and compromise and pursue dialogue – which was the President’s expressed basis for a move to prorogation.
The NGO said, “This underscores the need for us as a nation to look at ways of modernizing the state and reinventing government that facilitate dialogue and remove issues of distrust and cynicisms.
“…with the die cast, we are back to the position of either working in a framework of negotiation and compromise — which Blue CAPS has consistently advocated — or, more of the same venom and acrimony, through protest and non-engagement.
“Pursuing the latter course would further set back the country’s development, which, ironically, in the end would only be resolved through the same framework of talks currently shunned by both sides.”
Blue CAPS contends that the current state of affairs, relative to the political climate, is of concern. “Stepping forward, the government should convene an independent panel of civil society stakeholders to oversee the resumption of talks with the opposition,” the group said.
The NGO also called on the media, public affairs commentators and other influential voices to promote the principle of healthy political engagement among our political leaders.
“When the dust settles from this recent political crisis, constructive, earnest dialogue will emerge as the only option for moving the country forward and allaying public fears about Guyana’s political state of health,” Blue CAPS concluded.