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“ONE GUYANA” must be a goal to be achieved and not just a slogan

Jul 29, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

I agree with President Ramotar who recently said that Guyana should revert to its former electoral system, whereby candidates would compete in geographical constituencies for seats in Parliament – (Kaieteur News, 15 July 2022). However, I would go a little further and say that what we really need is a sort of a hybrid system which combines the Constituency system (First Past the Post) with the popular vote. While the Constituency system empowers the electorate to choose the candidates who would represent the people’s interest in Parliament, the popular vote would be used to determine the political party which would form the government. In order to arrive at the popular vote, the votes polled by the individual candidates would also be awarded to the political parties they represent.

The following are the likely implications of such system:

  1. There would be a strong possibility of having minority governments. However, a minority government ought to be a good alternative for a racially divided country like Guyana. The powers that be will be forced to be more open to meaningful dialogue with the other side in order to move forward, thereby adopting a more consensual and collaborative approach to governance. This is essential to the President’s “Oner Guyana” initiative.
  2. The people would have their say in choosing their representatives in Parliament, as against what obtains currently where the party, rather than the people, chooses the representatives who are not even known to those they purport to represent.
  3. Empowerment of the people through their parliamentary representatives to influence decisions taken by the government in governance of the country
  4. The powers of the almighty President will be diluted in the case of a minority government.
  5. Transparency and accountability which many are clamouring for would consequentially find a place in the activities of government. And cries of discrimination and marginalization would be muted.
  6. , etc. – you name it!

Let’s face it – there is a serious problem with governance in Guyana, regardless of the political party in government. 56 years of Independence with essentially the same system of governance has only exacerbated our political and thus, racial dilemma, which is the Achilles heel of the nation. Can you, my brothers and sisters, imagine how far more advanced our country would have been if we, the people, were working in unity for the past 56 years? President Ali has recognised this, hence his “One Guyana” message and initiative. So, “ONE GUYANA” MUST BE MORE THAN A SLOGAN, BUT A GOAL TO BE ACHIEVED. It must be seen as a call for positive and transformative action by everyone of influence in the society. Mr. President, while your enthusiasm and passion for having One Guyana are surely infectious, it seems like the people close to you have taken their booster shots for the “virus”.

Yours sincerely,
“Dougla”

 

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