Coalitions in the air

May 28, 2010 Editorial

The victory of the coalition between the UNC and COP – dubbed the “People’s Partnership” – in the T&T elections may be a harbinger of political development in the Southern CARICOM members of T&T, Suriname and Guyana. These polities had always been distinguished from their cohorts by the presence of entrenched ethnic differences in their societies that channelized political mobilisation and allegiances along these cleavages.
Not that these other societies did not also develop deep political divisions – they certainly did: witness, for instance, the fratricidal wars that accompany every Jamaican election – but the ties of ethnic loyalties did appear to lend a greater sense of determinism in Southern Caribbean elections. It was not for nothing that these elections have been categorised (and bemoaned) as “ethnic censuses”. Sanguinary ties evidently vitiate the logic and self interest that are supposed to actuate democratic choice and replace them with fear, short-sightedness, venality, spite, and cowardice.
It has been more of passing interest that among the three countries, Suriname has dealt with the intrusion of ethnicity into the political realm most realistically. Some might retort that T&T has never suffered the political violence that scarred the history of Guyana and Suriname. But if we examine the phenomenon a bit closer we would notice that Suriname’s political violence was never totally driven by ethnic imperatives while T&T’s dodging of ethnic violence might have more to do with the fortuity of oil and gas.
Suriname’s confrontation of the vicissitudes of politicised ethnicity is partially due to the fact that because it has three major ethnic groups approaching each other in size, the bi-polar political confrontation of T&T and Guyana never developed in as intense a manner. There was always the need to seek cooperation across ethnic divides to secure the majorities necessary for authoritative decision making. But they also had their share of fortuity.
Their colonial power, Netherlands, was one of archetypal polities that inspired the “consociational” model of governance. One, that is, in which there is a candid acceptance of the particular societal cleavages (“pillarization”) and a presumption that all major blocs must be represented in the government through the device of a “Grand Coalition”.
It is accepted that a simple majoritorian government would exclude important elements of the society and lead to sentiments of alienation and the reality of exclusions. In the Surinamese election that followed close on the heels of T&T’s, neither ex-strongman Bouterse or ex-president Venetiaan have secured an outright majority – even with their pre-election coalitions – and are energetically wooing the “outside” parties to form the next government.
Coalitions in Suriname are therefore seen as not only an expedient for securing office but a mechanism for securing legitimacy and societal peace. This was in direct opposition to the British experience and normative practices (British statesman Benjamin Disraeli: “England does not love coalitions”) that have been bequeathed to T&T and Guyana.
The two-party system was promoted here as the greatest bulwark to secure democracy and only a great emergency – such as a World War – may permit a coalition government. Winston Churchill, who led such a coalition during WWII, wryly pointed out the fly in that particular ointment: “It is not always possible to have everything go as one likes. In working with allies, it sometimes happens that they develop opinions of their own”
Well a coalition government was formed in dear old Britain only last month – even though there is no WWIII on the horizon – and so maybe events in T&T are only a reflection of a wider paradigm shift on the need for greater legitimacy in making collective decisions in an ever-shrinking globalised world. In our own country there have been encouraging sounds about coalition governments (under various guises) emanating not only from the opposition benches but from those in the corridors of power.
This shift and expansion in perspective on what ought to be considered a “proper” government can only redound to our national good. While we congratulate T&T on their coalition fait accompli and Suriname on their imminent one, we encourage our political elites to take the plunge. A faint heart never won a fair (and stable) country.

Latest News

Coalitions in the air

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

NSC, Office of the DPP to host Criminal Law and Sexual Offences Act...

Lucas Chung maintains strong standing at 2nd...

Farm Supplies Ltd. supports Bartica Regatta 2025

Legislation and Investment: Trinidad to Brazil,...

Three more matches billed for this weekend

CM Khan rules at 2025 National Blitz Chess...

Features/Columnists

“One Guyana” is no less a national slogan than “Green Guyana”

If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?

Partner v. investor

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Coalitions in the air

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]