Dear Editor,
The next general elections in Guyana will surely test the maturity of the Guyanese people and our electoral systems. Voters will have to decide whether they will vote for the party with the best manifesto, which genuinely offers realistic proposals for dealing with the economic, social and political issues of this nation, for the betterment of all Guyanese regardless of race, class or political affiliation, or will they select one based on race. If voting in Guyana continues along the destructive route of race, then it would mean that as a people we have not yet reached that level of civilization, maturity and understanding that is required for serious development.
The test of the political will that resides in each of us will be weighted heavily on how much trust we have in the parties that make up the pecking order for election 2011. At present there is a lot of talk about coalition politics. This in my opinion is the best option for opposition parties since none of them possesses the ability to pull off a comprehensive victory over the PPP/C. Based on how the society decides to treat racial voting in the lead up to elections, the opposition forces would need to ensure that they prepare themselves adequately for the challenges of retaining and broadening their support by winning new voters and impressively targeting the undecided.
While voters need to assert themselves against racism, opposition parties also need to show that they too have grown in strength, vision, transparency and leadership. While leadership is a crucial part of the winning opposition formulae, it is not necessarily the solution. I say this loosely because in a democratic society there ought not to be a single person acting as maximum leader. The leadership of any political party and/or government should not to be heavily dependent on the man or woman chosen as leader, but rather on the institution of leadership. Therefore any meaningful coalition effort on the side of the opposition must bring with it serious constitutional reform among the current leadership structures within the opposition.
In any coalition effort by the opposition there must be a system that is transparent and accountable in electing from among the key opposition stakeholders the leader and top executives for the coalition formation. Opposition forces would have to trust each other and must demonstrate an ability to work together for the good of this nation. Opposition leaders need to remove the myopic visions of just vying for power and trying desperately to hold on to any little power that might be available. The future of Guyana is at stake here!
Guyanese need to see an established opposition that can draft a comprehensive road map for development with clear ideas of achieving a new age of prosperity and progress for Guyana and Guyanese.
It is my wish that sensible discussions are held among the opposition parties and their respective constituencies resulting in the election of an ‘A Team’ that would be responsible for taking Guyana forward.
The time has indeed come for a change! Guyana certainly cannot continue along the almost two-decade old beaten path of corruption, marginalization, mismanagement and incompetence that has since become governance. The signs are distinctive and clear. Guyana needs new political leadership!
Yours faithfully,
Richard Francois
Abu Dhabi – UAE
