Politics in Guyana – read Suetonius

More than normally, our politicians seem to be tearing at each other’s throats. The 2011 elections, with the results poising power between executive and legislative bodies, one might have hoped would lead to constructive dialogue, useful give and take, compromise, a Guyana amity pact and accelerated national progress. Instead we have entered an alarming period of internecine political warfare which is dragging the country steadily backward.

The ‘Mandela solution’ has always been available as a way out of the dead-end created by our divisive and excessively partisan politics. ‘Winner does not take all’ – in the 2011 case the winners on both sides – is an option which should resonate strongly in our country now.

Speaking personally, I have always seen great merit in the concept of the best in all the parties coming together to recruit all