CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO

Mar 01, 2018 Editorial, Features / Columnists

It seems that a new party is on the horizon, due to the mismanagement of the affairs of the state, the economy, the signing of one of the worst oil and gas contracts by the government and a continued lack of transparency and accountability. While some believe that there is room for a new party, others feel that the time is not right.
But does a new party stand a realistic chance of breaking the monopoly of the two-party system, or will it suffer the same fate as all previous third parties?
This question speaks to the viability of a new political alternative in Guyana that has been at the centre of a simmering debate over the past year, especially after the AFC joined APNU, and amidst clear signs of significant public disenchantment with the two mainstream parties.
Fueling the new party debate is public opinion, which has consistently found that a sizeable percentage of the electorate has become disengaged from the political process. Many, especially youths, are disappointed with the present aging administration, which has been very slow to act and has not fulfilled its campaign promise to create jobs for them.
The fact that a sizeable portion of the population has fallen out of favour with the two main parties, has obviously made it possible to embrace a new party, which they hope would prevent either of the two parties from obtaining a majority of the votes, as was the case in 2011. A new political party would widen the choices for the voters and boost the democratic process in the country.
The more political choices, the better it is for the voters, who will be exposed to a wide range of perspectives on the issues. Public debate on competing ideas is the lifeblood of democracy, which could be enriched by the presence of a new party in Guyana that can contribute to a more balanced debate on the issues and decision-making in the public interest.
However, many have poured cold water on the likelihood of a new party to represent the interests of those who have become disillusioned with the two parties. They have contemptuously dismissed the idea. But for some to say that a new party is doomed to fail simply because others previously did is a lame reason.
The establishment of a new party ought to be examined separately in the context of its own merit and set of circumstances. Because others have failed in the past does not mean the same outcome is likely to happen today. Conditions now may be more favourable for a third party to thrive and survive.
The United Force (TUF) failed because it was squeezed out of a coalition with the People’s National Congress (PNC). The Alliance for Change (AFC) which was an impactful third force could experience the same fate because it has coalesced with APNU, which is actually controlled by the PNC.
One feels that the promoters of a new political party would not make the mistakes that TUF and the AFC did. They are of the firm opinion that a third party is likely to garner strong appeal from the public, because the goal is to truly represent the interests of the working class, the poor and the downtrodden in society, who know that the two parties have been representing their own interests and not theirs.
In Guyana, people have very seldom voted on issues or solutions, but along racial lines, which suggests that a third party must have the support of a strong working class to straddle the racial divide, unite the people, and develop solutions for the country’s problems. It must also have visionary and transformative leadership to improve the lives of all, irrespective of race or party affiliations. A third party must have an effective campaign strategy with such branding in order to obtain enough votes so as to maintain the balance of power.

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CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO

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