THE Government and the three Opposition parties in Parliament are agreed on establishing a series of standing committees expected to lead to inclusivity and transparency in the governance of the country.

They, however, do not agree on what's holding up the setting of the bodies which all seem to agree are necessary under the reformed Constitution.

It is a cause which has seen the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) and the smaller Guyana Action Party-Working People's Alliance (GAP-WPA) and the Rise Organise And Rebuild (ROAR) movement linking forces by issuing a joint statement yesterday on the matter.

They doubt the Government's sincerity and commitment to inclusivity and transparency in governance but the Government maintains it was and is fully committed inclusivity.

While the three parties on the Opposition benches argue that there are major hurdles to cross, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud feels the "few areas of disagreement should not, in any way, inhibit further discussions on the remaining matters."

Arrangements for inclusivity and transparency are called for under the Constitution and have been at the centre of the dialogue process between the Government and the PNC/R.

Establishing mechanisms to push the principles is something that the major aid donors and others have been prodding the parties here towards to improve the political climate and conditions which had deteriorated up to earlier this year.

The Government has a clear majority and mandate to govern and it has shown a willingness to include the Opposition in several agreed areas.

There should be no need for an escalating war of words or protests over establishment of the seven standing committees in Parliament to oversee Government policy and administration, including in foreign relations, national resources, economic and social services.

These, after all, are things already agreed upon, and there must be goodwill and give and take on both sides to get the show on the road.

In this season of peace on earth and goodwill to all, it is imperative that those concerned should demonstrate the spirit of compromise and work together to get the committees going.

Clearly established principles cannot be simply eschewed but the most important objective has to be the good of the nation.

Minister Persaud has indicated that there is enough common ground for the parties to move along on the issues and there is no reason why little obstacles cannot be easily cleared.

If compromise can be reached on most issues, it should not require the intervention of Good Officers from the United Nations or intermediaries from the Caribbean Community to get over the other thorny points.

Parliament has to be seen to be effective and not the rubber stamp that it had been for so many years under a previous government.

The National Assembly has come a long way since those days but it does its image little good when the elected representatives of the people find it hard to agree on moving ahead to implement things they agree are needed.

It is time to get the standing committees going.