On Friday, PNCR executive Lance Carberry said that the parties had agreed and the discussions had started between the JOPP and other entities. “So that process is one that is ongoing and hopefully in a month or two we will have a fairly clear picture of those who are genuinely and willingly interested in becoming members of an alliance,” he stated.
The parties had announced in July that they would work on building an alliance with civil society groups, including trade unions, religious, cultural, business and professional organisations and a technical team was formed to address the creation of a Statement of Principles (SOP) to guide the JOPP alliance.
Stabroek News has seen the SOP, which is based on the premise that a “positive transformation of Guyana” can only be achieved through a partnership that involves the widest representation of society, as a precursor to “a government of national unity, based on a shared governance approach.” The parties have agreed to develop a common electoral platform, which would include a sustainable programme for the socio-economic, cultural and political transformation of the country along with necessary constitutional changes to institute shared governance.
Additionally, the task force, after reviewing the social, political and economic situation in the country, has recommended a work programme for the alliance, with issues to be addressed as matters of great urgency in the event of its success at the election.
Among the priorities are the establishment of a “truth commission” to facilitate citizens’ complaints of human rights violations, including extra-judicial violence and killings and other acts of discrimination. The task force envisages that the commission would not absolve individuals or institutions of criminal responsibility.
The group has also proposed major constitutional reforms, including the revitalisation of the Constitutional Reform Commission, the removal of the executive presidency and its replacement by a separation of the functions of head of state (President) from head of government (Prime Minister). With all the parties agreed on shared governance, it has also been proposed that the alliance commit to the early implementation of constitutional and other provisions/ arrangements to ensure that an agreed system of shared governance guides a government of national unity. Further, they also suggest the adoption of an electoral system that is based on the principles of proportional representation, modified to ensure that candidates are elected on a constituency basis so that the electorate is able to identify and vote for the candidates of their choice. Similarly, they also support development and adoption of a local government system that ensures effective local democracy, including the devolution of fiscal transfers and other powers away from central government to the appropriate local government tiers. Additionally, they have suggested that political parties be barred from participation at the lower tiers of local government.
Another area for urgent attention is guaranteeing the autonomy of the National Assembly, including the responsibility for creating and managing its own budget. In this regard, there are a raft of proposals for the Parliamentary Management Committee to be responsible for the business of the National Assembly, for the Clerk to be empowered to recruit and appoint the staff of the Parliament office and for more support to ensure the more effective functioning of the committee system and Members of Parliament. There is also a suggestion that consideration be given to full-time members of parliament.
Meanwhile, in the area of crime and security, it is emphasized by the task force that in order to achieve real growth a government of national unity will tackle the drug lords, their facilitators in business and law enforcement. In this vein, it said that the help of international agencies will be vigorously pursued to assist efforts in interdicting, prosecuting, jailing and extraditing these persons who visit real pain upon the society.
The announcement of a broad opposition had followed a decision by the AFC ruling out any possibility of an alliance with the main opposition PNCR.
