This political grandstanding is no longer cute

Mar 18, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – Joseph Harmon’s official acceptance as Leader of the Opposition is ipso facto recognition of Irfaan Ali as
President. This charade of Mr. Harmon’s utterances of not recognizing H.E President Ali as the duly elected head of state has ultimately ran its course. The mere fact that Harmon officially accepted the title and office as the Leader of the Opposition is tantamount to accepting the fact that President Ali is the Head of State of our Republic. As opposition leader, who really is Harmon opposing? It cannot be a mythical figure. We do have a President in H.E. Irfaan Ali. So if you really examine both sides of this standoff with Harmon not recognizing Ali as President and Ali not engaging Harmon until he recognizes him as President, you cannot help but conclude that it is all about grandstanding and gamesmanship. Both of them, by acceptance of their respective official titles, ipso facto recognize each other’s constitutional roles.
I guess the gamesmanship was necessary since each has to pander to their constituency in bolstering their image of being the ultimate strongman and relentless fighter. Well, unless they have not been reading the tea leaves, the majority of opposition and government supporters are no longer hyped up about the elections shenanigans since the flashpoint has long passed and the courts are dealing with the miscreants.
People in general want to see the government implementing its policies and robust monitoring by the opposition. We all want to see the government business moving on in particular the areas that requires consultations and recommendations between the President and the Leader of the Opposition.
We need to appoint the various commissions such as the Procurement, Judicial, Local Government, Integrity, etc. The long outstanding issue of confirmation of the Chancellor and Chief Justice is a dark stain on our collective ability to self-govern.
It is time the President and Opposition leader exhibit political maturity and show some enlightened leadership. This political grandstanding is no longer cute.
Yours truly,
Reggie Bhagwandin,

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