COMPROMISE IN THE TIME OF PROROGATION

Nov 20, 2014 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

The President of Guyana has proposed talks between the government and the parliamentary parties as a way of determining the way forward for the country. In this regard, it is the government’s argument that prorogation allows for the tempestuous relations that have characterized the first session of the 10th Parliament to be aborted and for a new beginning.
The opposition is not interested in talks. They have, in fact, said they will not entertain any talks with the government on matters before the National Assembly. This is taken to mean that they are not negotiating on the no-confidence motion. But this does not mean that they are necessarily averse to a new framework for the governance of the country.
In other words, in so far as parliament is concerned that is a done deal. They are committed to the no-confidence motion and there is no turning back on this which will mean that even if the President summons Parliament, it makes no sense because the Opposition will shut it down by moving a no-confidence motion in the government.
The possibility of a compromise over Parliament is therefore not possible at this time. But a compromise is possible on a new framework for the governance of the country. As such, should there be any talks, these have to be outside of parliament and not address issues which were supposed to have been considered by the National Assembly prior to prorogation.
The President has reportedly written to the opposition parties inviting them for talks. They are likely to refuse. The President however has to go beyond inviting them for talks. He has to propose a new model for the governance of the country, detail this new model and then ask the Opposition to come for talks on this new model.
Whether the PPPC has the intellectual substance to develop such a model, one that is different from the discredited ones that were previously pursued, is highly questionable. But the point is that the President cannot simply ask for a meeting with the parties without some firm proposal on the table.
The only proposal likely to be acceptable to the Opposition parties at this time and the one that is most likely to diffuse political tensions, has to indicate how the country is going to be governed in the absence of parliamentary oversight. The Government should forget about all those projects which the Opposition has nixed. The Opposition is not going to approve those projects. Only a majority parliament will allow for those projects to go forward.
As such, the President should forget about having talks about those projects and instead talk about the next six months. The ultimate objective should be to ensure some compromise on the holding of elections since it is only elections now which can resolve the present political impasse.
The President should therefore issue a firm commitment to reconvene Parliament after the talks between himself and the Opposition parties about elections would have been completed. He should agree to reconvene Parliament but immediately upon reconvening to dissolve it so that the Opposition can have their elections which is what they had wanted through the no-confidence motion. In other words he will do what the Opposition wanted to do, end the life of the 10th Parliament.
With this undertaking, the talks can then proceed about what should happen in the interim. Foremost they should be about ensuring the readiness of GECOM for elections and what happens in the interim, including ensuring that GECOM is provided with the resources to undertake the elections.
Secondly, they should be about a commitment to peace and order. Thirdly, they should be a bar placed on the signing of all major projects and investments until elections are held. And fourthly, there should be discussion about access by the Opposition parties to the State media.
So let the talks be about these issues! Let the talks begin!

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COMPROMISE IN THE TIME OF PROROGATION

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