– Opposition Leader says he stands willing to consult on issues of national importance
President Irfaan Ali’s insistence that he would only consult with the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon unless and until he accepts the legitimacy of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/) Government, has been rejected by the Opposition Leader.
On the sideline of the Guyana Police Force’s Annual Officers’ Conference at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday, the Head of State said the Opposition Leader must to own up to his error, come clean to his supporters and stop spreading falsehood about the legitimacy of the Government.
“I don’t want no implicit recognition, he must go out there publicly and say, the government is legitimate and he recognises the Government, the president, and then let’s talk,” President Ali said, in response to a series of questions posed to him on the issue of consultation with the Opposition.
In a statement on Friday, the Opposition Leader described the President’s position as absurd.
“This is an absurd proposition and a continuation of the intransigence of the PPP regime in absolutely refusing to engage in dialogue. I am, as I have been and as is well known, since being appointed Leader of the Opposition prepared to meet with President Ali in the best interest of advancing the cause of the Guyanese people,” Harmon said.
The Opposition Leader said it is clear that the President Ali and his Administration have no interest in genuine consultation and dialogue or achieving “One Guyana.”
“He is purely and adamantly concerned only with being in power and less than half of Guyana who represent the PPP supporters,” Harmon said.
He reminded that the President has a constitutional mandate to consult with the Leader of the Opposition on appointments to important offices.
“I have already outlined that the constitution of Guyana does not set pre-conditions for consultation and dialogue between the President and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Ali and his handlers in the PPP can decide whether they want to put the country first, as I am prepared to do, or they wish to continue with their discriminatory, partisan and isolationist approach,” the Opposition Leader said.
He added: “I have stated from the outset and I reaffirm now, once again, that I am prepared to meet with President Ali at a mutually convenient time in the interest of meaningful dialogue and consultation and with a view to advancing the interest of the people of Guyana.”
Article 127 of the Constitution requires that agreements be reached between the President and the Opposition Leader for the appointment of Chancellor and Chief Justice while Article 191 mandates that the ombudsman be appointed by the President based on consultation with the Opposition Leader.
Articles 198, 200, 207, 210, 212 and 161 outline similar requirements for the appointment of members of the Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission.
Iterating eight points, which he had made during his presentation on the $383.1B Budget, Harmon submitted that the PPP/C Government cannot function by just seeing red or green communities. “Our communities are made up of people,” he said while adding, “we must agree that constructive engagements based on clear principles and broadened stakeholdership at the National, Regional and Community level is a sine qua non for our development.”
He said it is time the country shifts from ethnic marginalisation and vindictiveness. “We must agree to meet to cause redress on what has occurred. We must agree to collective focus on poverty and the plight of our poor citizens. We must agree that there is need for immediate and urgent protection of our sovereignty and National patrimony,” the Opposition Leader said.
He pointed out that the Opposition is not represented on the COVID-19 Task Force, which ought to be expanded to include representation at a meaningful level.
“Hardheartedness does not reflect who we are as a people. We must agree that there is urgent need to update our Elections laws to ensure a List of Electors which reflect the reality of Guyana,” the Opposition Leader said.
