Dear Editor,
I wish to thank President David Granger for taking the initiative to offer the opposition PPP/C power sharing in his new government. This can be considered a bold move to bring unity among the 6 races of Guyana, whereby we can once more live in peace and harmony. This nation has suffered for too long because of racial strife, and this is the opportune time to bring the two parties together regardless of their ideologies and differences.
The tactics of President Granger and the APNU+AFC coalition have proved correct in practice. As a new government with many young leaders at the helm, in a situation charged with racial issues, it has consistently taken a scientific outlook. While the government concedes there is a racial factor in Guyana politics, it has warned on the political campaign trail that the decisive factor is not race but economics; that there is an interconnection between the economic base and the political and ideological superstructure.
The value of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s work in this respect is that he will attempt to present positions impartially. Already we have seen an objection by the Opposition Leader to the Prime Minister heading the government side in the negotiations. In spite of his great effort to derail these talks, he may not have succeeded in helping his 400,000 voters or 49% of the people who voted for him.
He should negotiate in good faith with the Prime Minister, and show his maturity as a leader of his party and bury the hatchet. It is evident that the Opposition Leader is facing tremendous challenges in relation to the Prime Minister and there will be rising expectations from him and his party at large. If he is really interested in unity, he needs to work for national cohesion and then we can have an inclusive government and a national democratic state. This does not mean that the government should accept everything that the opposition places on the table.
The President has confidence in his Prime Minister; that is the reason he has nominated him to meet and talk with the Opposition Leader. After all, the Prime Minister is no stranger to the members of the opposition; he was one of the longest serving members of the PPP. He has a wealth of experience in politics with no inferiority complexes and became truly an intellectual and agitator. I personally feel he is the best person to deal with his counterpart in these talks.
Disputes between two parties like PPP and APNU+AFC with different manifestos and ideologies are not easily resolve, but as true leaders and patriots these can end and shared governance become a reality.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
