Parliamentary parties the AFC and GAP-ROAR are looking forward to the formalisation and institutionalisation of the national stakeholders’ forum as a means of establishing an inclusive democracy and more broad-based decision making.
In a release, the two political groupings said while they were cautiously optimistic about the success of the stakeholders meeting on security held at the Office of the president on February 27, 2008, only time “will judge whether we are all committed to making any headway.”
Stating they were pleased that President Bharrat Jagdeo agreed to the request to convene the stakeholders’ meeting in the face of a rapidly deteriorating security situation and that there are definite signs of promise, the parties said they all have a responsibility to ensure that there is not a descent into chaos.
They said that in their letter dated February 4, 2008 to the President they noted that the responsibility rests most on his shoulders. “To this end we expect him to acknowledge, before it is too late, that that there is disrespect for the law at all levels, and that the he needs to lead by example in respecting the laws and Constitution and ensuring that his Ministers follow suit,” they said.
They added that they expect a start in the process with the President leading the way in the appointments of all constitutional officers; establishing the constitutional commissions; recognizing that Guyana was becoming dysfunctional; and sponsoring a national stakeholders’ initiative to reform the way the state was organised and run. This, they said, would signal a recognition and acceptance that the time has come for all to be heard on the kind of country they want for the future through public hearings, discussion and urgent action. It was their opinion, they said, that the problems lie not in plans that exist to fight crime but in the level of implementation.
The meeting, they said, also highlighted gaps – such as tackling poverty, claims of marginalisation, and collective and inclusive governance – in the plans that must be filled.
They felt that Guyana is no safer than it was at the end of January.
Urging the security forces to redouble their efforts to capture the perpetrators of the Lusignan and Bartica massacres they urged the government, fellow opposition parties, and the members of civil society to examine the socio-economic and socio-political factors, including the governance and organisation of the state to find lasting solutions.
