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A strong third force to push back against abuse of power is needed

May 19, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

There is need for a strong third force to serve as a counter balance against bad governance as well as the two established political behemoths. The AFC had let us down during its marriage with the PNC. So the nation can no longer depend on it for good governance as a third force. And given the well-established reality that both government and the main opposition party seek power just for power sake and for self-interests, not the interests of supporters or the nation, there is need for a third force to serve as a balance between the two behemoths. Neither one is interested in renegotiating the oil contract and neither is interested in empowering the public. The country thirsts for better governance. The public want a better choice than the dominant two forces and the one that betrayed them.
There have been so many untenable and bad or questionable practices under this government — sheet filing fiasco, pump fiasco, Guysuco fiasco, fish trawler licence, giving away of state lands, exploitation of resources in Amerindian lands without their approval, various licencing, award of contracts to unqualified bidders, awarding of contracts with a religious affiliation bias, lopsided contracts to companies or individuals lacking requisite qualifications, appointments of unqualified persons for positions, and a multitude of other questionable practices. The previous administration was also connected to a sleuth of questionable practices and financial improprieties – bonds fiasco and rental for some Ministers being among them.
Thus, it cannot be business as usual with so many wrongs perpetrated by both parties and established politicians. A strong third force will push back against wasteful expenditure, political nepotism, and corruption and take us to good governance. What any third party really needs is a coming together of decent people to transcend the tribalism of both parties.
It is high time that decent minded members of civil society together with executives of small parties confront the existing situation of abuse of financial resources by working towards the establishment of a credible third force in preparation for the next elections due in three years. For disaffected voters, the coming together of small parties in a new third force might be enough to galvanise meaningful support to displace the two behemoths. And decent members of both the ruling and opposition parties, who are opposed to corruption, should look into the mirror and ask themselves how long more can they put up with what passes as governance by both parties.
It is essential that a third force be formed soon so that it can be ready in three years for the next elections. The objective is to win the government. But if that is not possible, the third force will gather enough support to deprive the two major parties of power or a majority of seats. A minority government can be better held accountable as it would be under a threat of removal through a no confidence vote if it violates the norms of good governance. The decent MPs and Ministers of both parties should display some level of decency and walk away from their parties, encouraging and joining a new clean politics of a third force.

Yours truly,
Calvin Braithwaite

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