Executive power-sharing

THE issue of Executive power-sharing has been in the national sphere for years. Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, responding to the USAID Report on Guyana, has said that no proposal has been put to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government, neither is the PPP/C going to “beg” to share power.There has been no clear and acceptable national definition of what constitutes power-sharing or shared governance. In the meantime, the society has been left to deduce what either term means from who is speaking to the matter. This presents a problem where, in the absence of definition, decision-making would be tantamount to flailing around in the dark.
The Guyana Constitution makes provision for an Opposition and Government, and under the Executive section of the constitution, the Leader of the Opposition is represented. This has its influence in the Westminster system of government, parts of which Guyana has adopted in our unique model of government. The Opposition, in addition to serving as a check on the Government, ought to shadow and work collaboratively with it on matters such as constitutional appointments and issues of national import.

That aside, politics carries a competitive element. Politicians vie for the votes of the electorate based on ideas, programmes, and track record. In our society, it has been argued that race has been the overriding factor in determining support. At the same time, the people’s thinking on political support has been evolving, though not as quickly as some would have liked, but is hoped that this factor is not lost on society.

The results of the 2011 and 2015 General and Regional Elections and the 2016 Local Government Elections have seen a shift away from what has been deemed the norm. Though fledgling, this needs to be nurtured and allowed to blossom, not contained. That being said, where groups prefer to identify with their own race, the argument being made that such does not grant immunity to the Executive to deny the racial other should be nurtured, not suppressed.

Another concern about power-sharing is addressing the issue of checks and balances, considered a valuable component of government. People would understandably want to know what would become of a constitutional opposition; what action would be taken to nullify the opposition and amend the constitution; and if this should happen, does it mean that the society would technically become a ‘one-party state’, where groups come together as one to share political office.

Jagdeo said the PPP/C will not “beg” to become part of a power-sharing arrangement, and this begs the question whether such is or would be a requirement.

At the level of politicians, there exists concern about agreement to act and support each other’s conduct, even though inimical to the State and the people’s well-being. None can ignore public expressions that there exist similarities in actions, condemned when in the Opposition, and being done when in the Executive.

It is not untrue in saying that the Leader of the Opposition condemns in the APNU+AFC government what his government was equally culpable of. And whereas citizens may be appreciative that he is holding the Executive to account, there exists skepticism that such condemnations may be more that of who should be the beneficiary. The medical supplies bond issue, aside from the stories surrounding it, Mr. Jagdeo’s friend, Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop of the NEW GPC, lost out on the contract.

Government and proponents of power-sharing will have to address the perceptions and issue soonest via national conversations that would facilitate the widest possible consultation. Power-sharing needs to be clearly defined: How power-sharing will work, including what will become of the system of checks and balances; the role and function of the Legislature vis a vis the Executive; and what mechanism would be put in place for the people to express their will to change the present constitutional form of government. These issues cannot be overlooked. It is not an unfair assumption to say the people would want foolproof assurances that any new form of government would not only benefit the elected, but the entire society.

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