Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon yesterday once again dismissed attempts by President Irfaan Ali to blame him for a lack of consultation between government and the main parliamentary opposition, saying the president’s call for him to recognise the legitimacy of the current administration is absurd.
“I offer my considered rejection to this notion. This is an absurd proposition and a continuation of the intransigence of the PPP regime in absolutely refusing to engage in dialogue. I am, as I have been and as is well known, since being appointed Leader of the Opposition prepared to meet with President Ali in the best interest of advancing the cause of the Guya-nese people,” Harmon said in a statement.
His statement came a day after Ali said that he is open for discussion with Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon but maintained that the legitimacy of the government must first be recognised.
Ali has said that he has been reaching out to Harmon “all the time” in his public statements and that the Opposition Leader has a choice. “Let me be very clear on this, he has choice. Sometimes, we have to decide what is foolhardy and what we really want to achieve,” he said on Thursday.
According to Ali, Harmon “trampled” on the country’s democracy during the March 2nd general and regional elections and he has a responsibly to “come clean” now.
He is referring to attempts made after the polls to perpetuate the former APNU+AFC in office and which resulted in a five-month impasse before the transfer of government took place. APNU has since sought to challenge the polls via elections petitions.
“I don’t know what bubble he is living in but I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is aware like the rest of the world that he trampled upon democracy and then whilst the world celebrated the triumph of democracy… with the inauguration of a democratically, legitimately elected government, he still seems to be wallowing,” Ali added.
He further stated that he is ready to engage Guyanese at all levels and has already embarked on this process.
However, he said the question as to whether Harmon is ready to speak to the “legitimately-elected” government remains.
However, Harmon yesterday contended that it is clear that President Ali and the PPP have no interest in genuine consultation and dialogue. “…[H]e has no interest in all Guyanese who he claims to represent; he has no interest in One Guyana,” he said.
Harmon reminded that the constitution “does not set pre-conditions for consultation and dialogue between the President and the Leader of the Opposi-tion” and challenged Ali to decide whether he really wants to put the country first or instead to continue a “discriminatory, partisan and isolationist approach.”
“I have stated from the outset and I reaffirm now, once again, that I am prepared to meet with President Ali at a mutually convenient time in the interest of meaningful dialogue and consultation and with a view to advancing the interest of the people of Guyana,” he added.
Proposing an agenda, he declared that there must be agreement that constructive engagements based on clear principles and broadened stakeholdership at the national, regional and community levels are an essential condition for development.
He further called for an immediate shift from ethnic marginalisation and vindictiveness as well as an agreement to meet to cause redress on what has occurred.
Harmon, who was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the COVID-19 Task Force Secretariat under the former administration, drew attention to the fact that the coalition now is not represented on the current iteration of the task force while saying that opposition representation at a meaningful level is necessary. “Hardhearted-ness does not reflect who we are as a people…,” he added.
He also said there is need to agree to a collective focus on poverty and the plight of poor citizens as well as on the need for immediate and urgent protection of the sovereignty and national patrimony.
He also said there must be agreement on the urgent need to update the elections laws to ensure a list of electors which reflects the reality of Guyana.
