The electorate has‘ given every leader in Parliament a share in Governance

Dec 25, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
It was Aristotle who asked the question, “What is the best form of Government for a State?” There are many states/nations and many forms of Government today. Thus after the 2011 General Elections, the Government is that of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic and the Parliament that of the Alliance for Change and A Party for National Unity.
What is troubling is that after calling for the last ten years for shared governance – the PNC/APNU and the AFC now have shared governance – they control Parliament by a majority of one. Not only that, they have control of the Georgetown Municipality, Regions 10, 8, 7 and 4 and therefore control the governance of those regions. Is this not shared governance?
What more can the PNC/APNU want? The Presidency?
For many people, this is the best thing that could have happened for the nation. But the APNU and the AFC do not seem to see it that way. So it is believed that the President has selected a Cabinet that suits the circumstances, hence the re-appointment of tried and tested former Ministers of the Jagdeo regime, but in different portfolios.
What has to be recognized is that most of these Ministers have had control of Ministries for five or more years. Therefore they can carry over their expertise quite smoothly into other Ministries, allowing Government to continue in uncharted waters.
President Donald Ramotar has shown good foresight – in that he has tried and tested Ministers to carry the Government of the nation, both in the short term and the long term. Why?
In the first place after the Parliament is convened with a Speaker in the Chair, the first Budget of the Ramotar regime has to be presented. This demands the input from all the arms of Government – the Ministers and the Regions. Hence the President’s selection of the Ministers of Government who understand what is required of them. This lends itself to continuity. Secondly, should the passage of this Budget be defeated and a No Confidence Motion is put and carried and the Government falls – new elections must be called within three months – therefore the President’s wise choice of the most experienced Ministers from the Jagdeo regime to control the government of the nation until a new President and Government is sworn in.
If this happens what is to be noted is that neither APNU nor the AFC would have a say in neither Government nor Governance – since Parliament would be dissolved by Executive Order and the PPP/C would continue in government until the results of the next general elections are announced. Surely if this happens the efforts of these leaders and the hopes of their supporters will now be dashed.
What could be laughable now is
1. Should the PPP/C now regain a majority (even of 1) in Parliament where does that leave the APNU and AFC? The street?
2. Can the PPP/C by some unforeseen circumstance lose the Presidency – where does this leave the PPP/C and its supporters?
3. Would the PPP/C even win an election after this for the next 28 years?
4. Will the PNC/APNU even allow (the controlling parts of course) free and fair elections again, or are they going to follow the Burnham pattern?
The supporters of the PPP/C are the ones who must make this choice – to NOT vote or VOTE – and return the PPP/C not only to the Presidency, but with a Parliamentary majority! Why?
If the AFC and APNU would have been given the reins of governance (2011) and then sacrificed it at the Helm of LUNACY and not UNITY, then they should NOT be returned to Parliament with a majority. PPP/C supporters should not allow them this again.
Regardless of which scenario plays out, the President has made a wise move.
– Government/Governance continues smoothly from day to day in Parliament.
– Cabinet can always be reshuffled and Ministers of Government changed in the medium and long term (5 years).
– The Electorate has spoken and has established this form of Governance – and this carries with it progress or decay.
– The goodness of hearts is required.
– The injuries which go with past jealousies and acrimony must be subdued.
– One hopes that probity and good faith would carry the day.
– Instead of separation, there must be togetherness, respect and honesty.
All our leaders would now be answerable for whatever events their conduct might produce – the surest, safest way forward would be for them to take the straightest path.
This is not the time for the opposition to feel their power.
They do not have to give way to the authority of the Executive, but work with it.
The way forward must NOT be courted by resentment by negotiations, and willingness to compromise.
Parliament
Parliament as constituted is a Hung Parliament. The Government is a minority government – without a majority to pass legislation without the support of the opposition.
Therefore the President’s choice of his Cabinet is again a wise one.
It is one thing to create policies, but another to see them through Parliament as legislation and law.
Therefore the Parliament requires the tested strength of Parliamentarians who have been through the mills of debate, discussion, deliberation and compromise, to ensure that the business of government can be brought to a successful conclusion.
This could not have been left to a group/cabinet of novices/untried Parliamentarians, who would now have to learn the ropes of management in untested waters, where the trials would be many and pitfalls plentiful.
What is of interest is trying to decide how far what has happened was inevitable and how far this event was influenced by accident or design.
Was it just chance that the PPP/C lost control of the Parliament by one seat? Was this possibility too difficult to foresee in spite of the Vishnu Bisram poll?
Can APNU, which now has a base claim to power and the AFC to power brokerage, govern in the interest (not necessarily the best) of the nation? Or are they too power drunk to think of the national good as against their own sectoral?
Never before has the nation’s destiny been entrusted to the hands of ALL the leaders of the contesting political parties at a general elections. Something new has come into our world – The possibility of these leaders to build their environment into a newer and greater whole.
Conclusion
Power is never boundless authority, is seldom a luxury.
If absolute government produces indolence, obstinate governance gives birth to arbitrary power.
The electorate has given every leader in Parliament a share in Governance.
– Let partnership reign
– Let Parliament be the hall for Liberty and Justice
– Let each leader remember there is one President, let him preside and all other men share in government and governance.
This nation deserves nothing less.
The better team has been put into the field. Now it is time for the game to begin. The umpires are ready and only too willing to run them out.
Each member of the team must now bat or be clean-bowled out for a nought.
To win this team must survive the next five matches – on a wicket that is wet and sticky.
The spectators are watching and waiting.
Some to laugh and some to cry
Some to grow and some to groan.
All are involved or all are consumed.
Doreen Prasad

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