— Pres. Granger bemoans non-cooperation of Opposition

THERE has been a consistent lack of cooperation by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to have dialogue with the government on matters of national importance outside of constitutional requirements, said President David Granger.

The President described the non-cooperation by the Opposition as “dysfunctional,” during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday.
He made it clear that his administration is not opposed to talks with the Opposition on non-constitutional matters, but noted that “It is good to speak with people who are prepared to speak with you and we have had some difficulties.”

The head-of-state cited several examples, including his address to the National Assembly at the beginning of every session and budgetary consultation.
“For example, last October, I addressed Parliament to lay out the legislative agenda, and the financial considerations and the entire Opposition was absent.
“When the budget consultations take place, they send a junior person or they don’t participate at all. The reform of the sugar industry, the attendance is very spotty. There has been a very low level of cooperation on the part of the Opposition,” said President Granger.

He noted that the resistance by the Opposition does not exist only at the level of central Government, but also regionally.
“I have been to some meetings and the regional chairman won’t come to meet me, the Ministry of Communities has had seminars and the persons who have been elected on the PPP ticket don’t show up; municipal and regional levels.”
President Granger assured that notwithstanding the challenges faced with regard to political dialogue between the coalition Government and the Opposition, he has no issue consulting with the PPP outside of constitutional matters.

“So we have had a lack of cooperation from the Opposition in many areas. I would consult them yes, in matters of GECOM and things I am required to consult him on, and outside of the Constitution, but they have been very uncooperative.”
Moreover, the President described the resistance from the Opposition as dysfunctional.

BEYOND DEFIANCE
“We expect resistance from the Opposition, but it is uncooperative to the level of being dysfunctional. And, if you have a system in which [the] regional administration refuses to cooperate with the central Government, it is beyond defiance, it starts to become dangerous and I think the Opposition has to bear responsibility for that,” the President added.

Over the years, there have been calls for the major political parties, the PPP and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) to put their differences aside and have political dialogue on social and economic matters as of high importance.
Collaboration by the major political forces, it has been opined, can foster confidence, trust as well as good, cordial relations at the national level, thereby obtaining solutions to matters of national importance.

The APNU+AFC coalition government has from its very formation stressed inclusionary governance. In fact, President David Granger has repeatedly said that his administration is committed to inclusionary democracy and is prepared to consider executive power-sharing with the PPP/C.
Back in September 2015, the President noted that at that year’s General and Regional Elections, the coalition secured 51 per cent of the votes cast by the electorate and as such, it would not be prudent for his Government to exclude the PPP/C base.

“We have at all times aimed at having inclusionary democracy and inclusionary Government, so that the 49 per cent don’t feel locked out.”
The head-of-state stressed that national unity is part of the philosophy of the coalition and noted that there must be some form of sharing, national unity and inclusionary governance.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo was selected to lead the Government’s national unity talks with the Opposition, but the Opposition has since expressed reservations on engaging the prime minister. In fact, the PPP has rejected the prime minister, noting that the party is “uncomfortable” with him.

In a statement issued back in 2015, the PPP said, “Knowing the dim view the PPP holds of Moses Nagamootoo, the APNU+AFC by insisting that he is their ‘best man’ who will head its team must know that that initiative will go nowhere. Thus, by pushing Nagamootoo centre stage, it is now pellucidly clear that the coalition’s objective is not to have any talks at all, but to put the PPP/C on the defensive and to project the party as refusing to engage in talks with the Government.”

The Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who is a former PPP executive, has maintained that he has no axe to grind with the party of which he was once a member and is ready to enter talks on national unity with the PPP.
Nagamootoo had worked with the PPP under the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan for a number of years and even after his (Dr Jagan’s) death, continued to work with the party.
Attempts on Saturday to contact Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and executive member Gail Teixeira on the subject proved futile.