REITERATING the President’s reason to prorogue the National Assembly, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon said the decision was ‘a search for dialogue’, and that once all of the possibilities have been exhausted, a definitive announcement will be made by the Head of State within the six-month period.

President Donald Ramotar on November 10, prorogued the Parliament for a maximum of six months.

Dr. Luncheon was part of a panel discussion on the programme ‘The 10th Parliament, the Way Forward’ on the National Communications Network (NCN) with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony on Sunday.

It was noted that Guyanese elect public officials every five years, a manifesto or plan of action is then put out, and the governing party implements it over the afore-mentioned period. It is only something of significance, or of a drastic nature, that interrupts or truncates this programme, Dr. Luncheon said. He reminded that in 1997, due to conflict, two years of the PPP/C’s governance was given to facilitate a return to parliamentary normalcy.

“There is an abiding concern among the PPP/C that we will not contribute a return to a similar situation. Dialogue is what prevents that,” Dr. Luncheon said.

The proclamation by President Donald Ramotar is driven by the need to execute what the electorate mandated him to do over that five-year period, Dr Luncheon said.

“You’ve got to understand it from that perspective, an abiding concern, and an abiding commitment to get the priorities for Guyana just right.”

The decision by the joint Opposition to move their no-confidence motion to the top of the list of matters to be debated, at November 10 sitting of the National Assembly, meant the halting of several key pieces of legislation.

This move would have inevitably led to President Ramotar having to name a date for general elections, within 90 days. These critically needed pieces of legislation included the amended Anti-Money Laundering Bill, the Telecommunications Bill aimed at liberalising the sector, the Education Reform Bill and proposals for the Amalia Falls Hydro Power project.

The Cabinet Secretary said that whilst there were some difficulties, during the parliamentary debates and the various tabling of the new bills, one cannot deny that there hasn’t been progress.

There was an investment that occurred in the 10th Parliament, he stressed, one that even skeptics would have to concede had benefits “and enough to encourage us to feel that solutions were just around the corner”. He cited the example of the AML Bill which, due to input from a wide range of stakeholders has seen the blacklisting of Guyana by international financial bodies deferred. “This is where we were on the 10th of November, progress and possibility of further progress as opposed to it being arrested,” he said.
Asked about a timeframe for the President to make a decision, in light of statements from the joint political Opposition that they will not be engaging the President in dialogue until the parliament is reconvened, particularly as the constitutional date for the National Budget approaches, Dr Luncheon opined that members of the joint Opposition are not foolish.
“What it does say is notwithstanding these profound differences that exist that, there has to be some resolution. Our concern is the resolution should be within the context of the 10th Parliament.” He added that there is absolutely no reason to believe that the alternative, elections and an 11th Parliament, is going to vitiate these enormous difficulties and they will disappear like in the fictions of the world.
“They will be right there on the morning of the 11th Parliament, and what are we going to do? Have another round of dissolution again?”
Going to the elections, at the first hurdle that presents itself, will not result in the resolution of key issues such as the AML Bill, and approval for the Amaila Hydro Power Project, the Cabinet Secretary stressed. “We have to talk our way through,” he declared.
Minister Anthony said the electorate would quickly see through the move of merely “opposing for opposing sake.” Dr. Anthony added that if Guyana’s development is to be prioritised, it is essential to sit and talk things over despite there being divergent views. The need for constructive engagement and prorogation is the way to achieve this, he emphasised.
With regards to a specific cutoff date for the ending of prorogation, Dr Luncheon explained that since the period cannot be extended beyond six months and President Ramotar has indicated that he will not repeat the process, a decision will be made during this period. He said that once all of the possibilities for dialogue have been exhausted a definitive announcement will be made by the Head of State.
“Indeed there is a merit of not identifying a specific end-point, at the time when prorogation was announced lest it be made the tool, the instrument liable to being shut down by those whose interest might have been, in not pursuing what the President’s objectives were”.
Responding to claims that the Government is stalling for time to prepare for possible elections, such as calling for additional registration and embarking on various aid programmes, were soundly refuted by the HPS. The education grant, Dr. Luncheon reminded, was introduced during the 2014 National Budget hence it was difficult to justify a claim that the disbursement of the funds for the programme, was electorally grounded in its appeal. The political Opposition is well aware of this, he said.
“On the surface the inconsistencies are glaring; I’m saying that’s part of the course, where politics and where conflict is concerned, but the successful political system, mature political systems, they solve those problems.”
It was also pointed out that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has announced that it had already programmed itself to conduct a seventh round of voter registration; hence there is no excuse to factor this exercise into any machinations.
There have been calls for a return to Parliament by several stakeholders, including representatives of international organisations. On this issue, Dr. Luncheon opined that, “again these are not foolish people, these are not imbeciles and therefore knowing fully well that a return to the 10th Parliament under the extant conditions means dissolution, they couldn’t be offering that as a substantial forward movement for the conflict that we are experiencing!”
They are also “playing the game” and by taking this position, actually opening the door for the body politic (Government and Opposition) to discreetly, outside of the public glare, get on with the job or dialoguing and cutting the deals that would allow a “real return to Parliament” to discuss the nation’s business.
There are many issues that can see dialogue before the eventual return to parliament, the 12- point plan which started with negotiations to increase old age pensions but came to an end after the APNU leader David Granger backtracked on the second issue of electricity reform for the Linden Township, Prime Minister Hinds pointed out.
There needs to be a return to the obligations of the politicians who were elected by the people to handle their interests, it was pointed out also.
The President has been meeting with stakeholders to discuss critical issues such as Ebola and even flooding, in addition to the parliamentary impasse, hence civil society has interests such as what occurs in the political dispensation.
The HPS pointed out that they are playing a key role in this process, and they will play an increasingly important role in resolving the issues at hand. He noted that despite some of the objections raised by the joint Opposition to having the private sector, for example, involved in issues such as the AML Bill, one must be optimistic.
“Like the President on prorogation, these opportunities must never be abandoned, not because it could indeed not realise its objective, must be a priority, throw it aside. You put it out there; let us see what can be achieved in its contributions to improving, and having a better outcome with this situation.”
President Ramotar has formally invited the political Opposition to have dialogue with Government, but thus far they have declined. Despite this, the President has indicated that the “door remains open” for talks once the political Opposition is ready.

(GINA)