Time for a broad–based National Government

Dec 28, 2018 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

When will our political leaders and political parties honestly face and address the reality of more than six decades of race and political divisions that have stifled the social and economic development of our people and country, under the dominance of the PPP and PNC over these years, with the winner-take-all system?
When will our land be liberated from this scourge of political and racial divisions and conflicts for the national good?
The political parties and political leaders must let the past go and look to the future in the national interest, and seek political reconciliation through their own internal and intra-party truth/confession/reflection in joint sessions. The political leaders and political parties must now put the nation’s interest above self and party interest.
There is widespread national concern about the continuation of this situation, which beckons and calls on the leadership of the PNC and the PPP, and their political parties, to meet and confer in good faith to agree on the creation of a constitutionally broad-based government, based on the results of free and fair general elections in 2020 – and also to agree on a programme for national development for the social, economic, and human development. Timely constitutional changes/amendments are required.
Immediate discussions by the political parties on constitutional reform/amendments to establish a broad-based government should consider:
• A Government be constituted by at least two-thirds of elected members of the National Assembly to include every political party which obtained 15% of the seats in the National Assembly;
• Members of the National Assembly to elect the President and Vice-President by two–thirds majority at the first session of the National Assembly following general elections;
• The provision for one Vice President only, and abolish the misnomer of the title of “Prime Minister”;
• The number of Ministries should be no more than 21, set constitutionally;
• National budget must secure a two-thirds vote of the National Assembly;
• One election for the National Assembly and regional authorities
• A fixed election day every five years;
• Establish a professional, neutral, and politically impartial Public Service by Law;
• Appoint a genuinely independent, neutral, and politically impartial Public Service Commission;
• The Public Service Commission to also appoint all Permanent Secretaries and all Regional Executive Officers based on merit.

With thanks.
Joshua Singh

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