Government outmanoeuvred?

Dec 31, 2018 Editorial

President Granger’s inability to master the political environment over the last three and a half years have led to the passage of the no-confidence motion and the collapse of the government. In the war of words in Parliament between the government the opposition, it was clear that the latter had control of the narrative over the former. As sacrilegious as this might sound to some, the political experience of Bharat Jagdeo has decidedly outmanoeuvred the inexperienced President Granger as Jagdeo appeared to be the crusader of good governance.
Obviously, the vast majority of PPP supporters have welcomed the defeat of the government, despite some legal wrangling of what constitutes a majority of all the members in Parliament. The sudden defeat of the government occurred before any solid plans have been put in place to steer the nation in the right direction during this turbulent period. However, by decisively controlling the narrative, the opposition has deftly moved the discussion away from the debacle in Parliament that has overwhelmed a large segment of the population, towards the formation of a national front government that includes the PPP, PNC and the AFC.
The passage of the no-confidence motion has moved the needle in the direction of the opposition, whose leaders believe that a national front government is a better option for the country and its people. The ill-fated vote has turned the tide against the government and in favour of the opposition. However, the legal jargon of some of our legal scholars who are contending that 34 votes and not 33 in the 65 member House of Assembly constitutes a majority in neither here or there.
It has prompted “Dem Boys Seh” to describe it as “jumbie” Arithmetic. Many in the public have dubbed it as voodoo mathematics, which will never win the day. The truth is the die has already been cast and there is no turning back. The government should accept that it was defeated and try to form a national front government or call a general election, which the PPP is likely to win, given its huge victory in the last two Local Government Elections.
As it stands now, it seems that the government will reject the idea of a national front government and contest the election on its own. But it would be better for the government and the opposition to determine what is best for the country.
Whatever one might think of the opposition leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, it is undeniable that he has outmanoeuvred the government. Despite all the fears expressed by the public after the passage of the no-confidence motion, the idea of a national front government is a highly positive development.
It cannot be predicted whether a national front government will be formed or not. But if it does, it would be preferable to the 28 years and 23 years respectively of PNC and PPP entrenchment in office, which Guyana has been a victim for more than five decades.
Many are hoping that the main political parties can be persuaded to consider a model of governance whereby they would become a part of and would not be forced to compete with one another during elections. Over the years, neither of the two main political parties has resolved the problems that have arisen from Guyana’s racial divide.
In declaring its preference for a national front government, the PPP may have realized that the time has come to end one party majority rule. With oil production scheduled for early 2020, the PPP is aware that the complex issues relating to the management of the country’s oil resources needs the political wisdom and expertise of the major political parties.
The size and complexity of the tasks to be accomplished suggest that they cannot be achieved by no single political party. As a nation, we must craft a new model of governance, one without the monolithic domination of one or the other major political party. The stakes are high and Guyana’s future is on the line.

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