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The Opposition must not only highlight the Government’s incompetence but must force the Government to act better. Efforts to hold the Government accountable, reminding the society of any failure to deliver or duplicity are commendable. However, the Opposition needs to go a little further and develop a can-do (i.e. winning) attitude to ensure the Government governs and in the best interest of all.
It is not lost on society that the government seems more preoccupied with political spitefulness, scavenging to see how they can benefit themselves and family, and inviting all and sundry to come into Guyana and exploit our resources. In the spate of bewilderment by the people and the Government’s disinterest in frequent parliamentary sittings the Opposition should force a legislative agenda. It makes a mockery of the political system when the Legislative branch is muzzled. This is the branch that not only provides Executive oversight but debates and passes bills that would become law.
Guyanese, across the political spectrum, desire a better society. The world has been observing Guyana’s political turmoil. The world will not respond or get involved in bringing about legislative democracy if the Opposition does not agitate, does not internationalise the political deficit and or force the Government’s hand. This publication does not pretend to know the answer about how this can be done. Suffice to say it is not impossible and avenues need to be explored. The Opposition is not without arrows in its quiver and contact with persons of international reputation to pursue this goal..
There are precedents in societies with parliamentary democracy such as ours and including those, while they may not share an exact Westminster culture, that can be relied on. Influential persons functioning within these institutions or having the wherewithal can provide legislative guidance and support. At times, the best way to challenge an opponent is utilising that opponent’s strategies. Coalition leaders do not have to search their memories far back to remember this.
Leading up to the 2015 Election the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) sought to drive fear into the society that Guyana will become a militarised state, and military men will be kicking down the door of people’s homes should the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (Coalition) win the election. That fear was ginned up because the presidential candidate, Mr. David Granger, is of military background and they were others in the leadership corps with military experiences. In 2020 the PPP/C replicated the Coalition’s model in its selection of the prime ministerial candidate and others placed in high office.
The PPP/C is known for tarnishing Guyana when it is in opposition. The party is known for bad-mouthing the government to all and sundry, often based on lies and half-truths, when in opposition. The party is known for undermining and sabotaging the economy when in opposition. When the party decided it was not going to return to Parliament after the no-confidence vote nothing made them. Instead, they ran a campaign to justify why they would not. The fact that they did not return and were able to influence acceptance that they should not is political achievement. The society lost but the party won which is what they wanted.
Politics is about winning (achieving) whether it be office, hearts and or minds. There is a greater chance to influence what happens when winning. The PPP/C has proven to be capable of this even when in the opposition. It is not cynical to condemn the party’s deceptions and unpatriotic acts. It is cynical to fail to replicate their strategies to achieve what the society is clamouring for, i.e. better governance. The only caveat the Coalition should have in this approach is that of pursuing its agenda based on truth and integrity for these remain the guidance of good governance.
There is dire need for building common ground through representative governance. If this cannot be achieved by the Government facilitating the long-held tradition of scheduling parliamentary sittings to make the Legislature meaningful, the Opposition should force a legislative agenda. It is time to think outside of the box.
