The opposition has abused its role and ‘blacked-out’ Guyana

Jul 20, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is a sad day indeed in Guyana when the opposition has completely misused its role in parliament to oppose a government initiative which would reduce electricity rates by more than 50% and give Guyanese protection against rising oil prices. In other words, they are depriving the Guyanese people of cheap electricity and a better standard of living.
This Bill was so important to the people of Guyana that two Government Ministers went beyond their call of duty to actually “beg” the opposition to support it. Mr Hinds and Mr Benn realised, like all Guyanese except APNU and AFC Parliamentarians, how important this Bill was and should be commended for their efforts to gain support for it.
While I think that checking the government in legislation, spending and administration are the most obvious tasks of the opposition, it would appear that the opposition parties in Guyana clearly do not fully understand their roles, one of which is to give loyal support to proposals of the Government which would be in the interest of the country. They certainly missed the trick this time and the IDB and the world are watching.
Any opposition worth its salt must check the government and it must keep prodding. But it must not forget to address itself to its main task, which is to replace the government. In other words, the opposition should so conduct itself in parliament as to persuade the people of Guyana that it would be an improvement on the present government. Sadly, all Guyanese are still waiting for this to happen, albeit there is not much expectation either.
The main opposition in Guyana, even if it enjoys the prestige of being the official opposition, and of having been in power in years gone by, cannot expect that sooner or later it will again take office merely by virtue of its having opposed the present government for opposing sake. It’s got to do better than opposing a bill that would have eased the hardship on Guyanese.
The electors in Guyana may complain about the Government and party in power, but they are not going to replace it by an opposition party unless they are persuaded that the opposition party has something better to offer and reflects the thinking of the people with respect to the needs and the problems of a new day.
Then at election time the government is on trial. If it hasn’t delivered the goods it can be thrown out. The opposition is also on trial at election time. It too must deliver the goods, or it too can find itself thrown out and replaced by other opposition.
The opposition must do its job of checking and prodding the government and support them on any plans to move Guyana forward. It must advance and stand for the kind of policies that will persuade the electors that its members should be on the treasury benches; that its members will provide better government, more in keeping with the times in which we are living, than the present government.
These are the challenges that confront the opposition parties in Guyana. Sadly, they are walking away from all these challenges and, on their way, snatching the bread out of the mouths of their own supporters and indeed all Guyanese.
Paul Kirpaul
London

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