…President says new parties symbolise confidence in Guyana’s democracy
… coalition remains open to engage, broaden partnership

THE formation of several new parties to contest in the coming elections is proof of “blossoming democracy” in Guyana, a freedom which was stifled under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

As a guest on Hits and Jams 94.1 BOOM FM programme Hot Seat a few days ago, President David Granger said that his government is pleased to know that citizens feel comfortable to exercise their constitutional right to form parties as representation of various groups of society. He reminded the public that it was the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) which made history in Guyana in 2015 as the first six-member coalition to form part of the government was elected. “We in APNU refer to our worldview as the ‘big benab’ and we welcome different shades of opinions. What the Guyanese did in May 2015 was express confidence in a coalition form of government, they expressed no-confidence in the winner-takes-all approach. That is what happened in May 2015. They don’t want any more winner takes all and that is what the PPP has been threatening and promising,” the President said.

“We now have six parties in the coalition, the first time in the political history of Guyana that we’ve had six parties which did not necessarily have very cordial relations. They’re now sitting around the table, they’re now members of the National Assembly.”

Since December 2019 to now, some of the new parties formed include: A New and United Guyana (ANUG), the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Federal United Party (Fed-Up), the Citizenship Initiative (CI), Change Guyana and, more recently, the New Movement (TNM), the People’s Republic Party (PRP) and the Kingdom Liberal Movement (KLM). “It’s a form of democracy; it’s a form of confidence in our democratic system that many of these parties have come forward because they reflect various shades of opinion in a very complex society,” the President said.

“We’re not narrow minded, we look for inclusionary democracy and I think it’s a good thing that people who have different shades of opinion should be allowed to exercise their constitutional right to form parties and if they want to cooperate with us, well, they’ll cooperate with us. We know that we are a truly representative coalition and we welcome discussions with all of them.”

In September 2019, following a one-day protest of the PPP/C at the Pegasus Hotel against the President, APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Jermaine Figueira said that “real democracy” has been restored to Guyana as the PPP/C had not allowed the freedom to protest during their years of reign.

Figueira wrote in letter to the editor “The Guyanese people are happy that ‘real democracy’ is back in Guyana, that protesters are no longer killed, shot at or placed in jail on trumped-up charges. Guyanese are happy that little boys are not jailed because of the showing of a preferred finger to a President, or is threatened by another to be slapped or their genitals burnt by law- enforcement officers sworn to protect them.” On the programme, the President confirmed that he has had discussions with LJP Leader, Lennox Shuman and while the government does not intend to give away seats or cabinet portfolios for the coming elections, all parties are welcomed to make their views heard to the coalition.

The Head of State said: “We want the Guyanese people to feel confident that the form of government that will continue after March 2, 2020 will be one that represents their interest. We want to make sure that the Guyanese feel confident in the government and not oppressed by one political party. We’re against ‘winner-takes all politics. It’s dead; close chapter.”