COMING GRANGER/JAGDEO MEETING – facing the challenges, not ‘baby talk’
President David Granger
President David Granger

FINALLY, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) last week did what was long expected. It made public its list of 32 parliamentarians for the 65-member National Assembly, on the basis of the declared official results, while still pursuing the course of a court challenge to claimed irregularities that deprived it of a sixth successive term in Government. What’s now more than overdue is the relevant oath-taking ceremony by these Opposition MPs for the voices from both sides of the Parliament to be heard in, hopefully, vigorous, constructive debates – in the national interest – as distinct from vicious politicking and wicked personal engagements.
At the time of writing, and against the backdrop of some quite significant diplomatic and legal developments — for instance the Chief Justice’s ruling on Presidential term limits — there continued to be the depressing obsession by sections of the local media and even elements within the coalition Government over the high profile return to political leadership life of former two-term President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Former President Dr Bharrat  Jagdeo
Former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

On the other hand, apart from occasional interventions by the PPP’s General Secretary and former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee – seemingly a favourite editorial whipping horse for one leading local newspaper — there remains the absence of serious, constructive dialogue in the national interest. Even, that is, in the face of deteriorating relations between Guyana and Venezuela that’s rooted in the latter’s 19th century colonial claim to some two thirds of Guyana’s 83,000 square miles.
In this context, it was encouraging to note the observations made in yesterday’s ‘Guyana Chronicle’ on the “PPP and the National Assembly”. In rightly contending that the party owes it to the country and its supporters to behave with “expected maturity”, the editorial noted: “After decades of an adversarial Parliament, both sides of the political divide have a golden opportunity to institute a new kind of power-sharing…”
The cynics may dismiss this persuasion as political “baby talk”, or worse, given the historical divisions and personal bitterness that lingers among some in the leadership structures of both the PPP and the PNC, the latter now in command of the relatively new APNU/AFC coalition Government.
FACING THE CHALLENGES
Yet, the renewal of territorial conflict between Guyana and Venezuela, which seems in need of urgent, matured diplomatic initiatives, instead of competing with sabre-rattling talk in Caracas or Georgetown, serves to underscore the need for a new culture in cooperation between Government and Opposition.
This, of course, would require mutual respect between two historical, formidable mass-based parties, and avoidance of any bragging rights by their leadership.
Consistent with the progression of developments since May 11 and including the leadership changes within the PPP that have resulted in the current national political status quo with the imminent oath-taking ceremony for the formal new structure of the 65-member National Assembly, it seems advisable for both President David Granger and (expected) Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo be in readiness and in mood to do business with each other – in Guyana’s national interest.
Significant developments that have occurred, since the outcome of the May 11 elections, include formation of the new Government; leadership changes within the PPP and the understandable absence, with their consent, of both former President Donald Ramotar and his civil society Prime Ministerial running mate Elisabeth Harper, from the PPP’s chosen 32 parliamentarians for the 65-member National Assembly, a primary focus would, of necessity, shift to the inevitable, historic meeting between President Granger and Opposition Leader Jagdeo.
The prevailing political tension, as well as the numbing wave of gun-related killings and criminality must feature as priorities for the inevitable coming Granger-Jagdeo meeting.
Both leaders should expect to be under close monitoring of their moods and responses to the pressing national issues confronting this nation that’s in urgent need of healing and where political and social divisions remain anchored amid changing rhetoric and fancy media posturings.
(Rickey Singh is a noted Guyana-born Caribbean journalist based in Barbados)

Analysis by
RICKEY SINGH

 

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