Dear Editor,
Interpretation is now the focus of dissent concerning the Court of Appeals’ ruling. The coalition will hold fast to the decision that it is the law while the opposition, not getting what they expected, will say they do not understand the mathematics of the ruling. Former President Jagdeo (KN 3/23/19) states: …he had expected that if the High Court’s ruling that the no-confidence motion was valid had to be overturned, perhaps some other technicality would have been used. He thought that the argument of the dual citizenship status of former AFC Member, Charrandass Persaud who voted in support of the motion would have been used”. But instead of following this pointless equivocation, one should focus on how we got to this juncture.
Members of parliament, after election in 2015, took the oath to honour and serve our country. And if there were reasons for the opposition led by Mr. Jagdeo to fault the coalition, did they document their dissent and work with the coalition to address and rectify what they may have perceived as misgovernance? One may ask why, after two years, no rational, ideological and/or systematic dissent was presented to the coalition and the people? What, for example, was the opposition’s proposal for the resuscitation of the sugar industry that died during their tenure? Instead of making their arguments on how to forge legislation that would benefit all Guyanese and Guyana, they opted for new election. If the coalition is as bad as the opposition claims, the opposition should bide its time and let the people of Guyana decide during the mandated election in 2020 instead of forcing the country into a moment of crisis. Instead of obsessively debating and interpreting the Court of Appeals’ decision, one should interpret the opposition’s actions during their term (2002 – 2016), why they were voted out of the majority and most importantly what a future with them at the helm portends. I am saying this because the rhetoric of great promises tends to cloud and skew the many accusations of mismanagement by the PPP during their time as the ruling party. If the coalition is inept, then the opposition (PPP) will have had the evidence to win the next election. But hungering for power, they are unable to see how they are tearing apart the country.
Do I dare ask, is it the lure of oil that is making them impatient? I have read much of Guyana’s “impending” windfall, but I have not read any of the negative effects that it will have on our society. What will be the effect on that segment of our society that is not prepared to handle the changes? I am happy that Guyana is on the threshold of receiving “large” monies, but I am terrified of the contenders who are vying for control. Until the opposition shows promise that their higher duties are to Guyana (people, land and resources) and not to themselves and their appetites, every Guyanese should be vigilant as they observe and remember the opposition’s behaviour now and during their time of misgovernance.
Yours faithfully,
Stanley Niamatali
