DEMOCRACY and social justice can perhaps best thrive in a stable environment that is sustained by matured political leadership and the goodwill and practical support of civil society.

As a multi-ethnic, plural society, Guyana has come a long way from the dispensation of rigged elections, 'party paramountcy', erosion of the independence of judiciary, the disciplined services and the public service and throttling of the media.

After three general elections within nine years and three victories in a row for the current PPP/Civic administration, there are still too many nagging social problems to be amicably resolved and unnecessary distrust and antagonism in the settlement of differences, whether at the political or industrial relations level.

There is also the need for more objectivity and less fanning of racial/political flames by sections of the media that seem unwilling to cast off old prejudices and false assumptions even in the face of ongoing efforts to address the issues of relevance.

Though by no means ideal, the dialogue process initiated and maintained by President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte, following the March 19 general election, has succeeded in sustaining a climate in which efforts can be pursued for national healing and reconstruction.

This does not mean that differences, even worrying tension, have not persisted. The encouraging factor is that they continue to meet and seek resolutions to outstanding problems. The latest such dialogue took place on Friday with a commitment to meet again this Thursday.

There has been a change from the bitter pre- and post-election accusations and rhetoric by both the PPP/Civic and PNC/Reform. And for all the occasional threats to suspend dialogue, Jagdeo and Hoyte continue to meet and continue to issue joint statements that reflect, even by the tenor of their disagreements, a level of political maturity that augurs well for the future.

Relevant Caution
However, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Reepu Daman Persaud, one of the most experienced MPs of the current Parliament, along with Hoyte, has given a very relevant caution in his response last week on why the government must have majority control of the parliamentary committees.

As he said, to sacrifice established precedents and principles would be to endanger the democratic process by political opportunism. Given the examples cited, the Minister's warning cannot be easily or expediently brushed aside.

The Minister's statement emphasised the government's commitment to pursuing, in good faith, dialogue on composition, terms of reference and functioning of the various parliamentary committees -one of the commendable results of the restoration of electoral democracy back in 1992.

At the same time, it cited precedents why the government was entitled to have the majority as well as to chair the various committees, the outstanding exception being the Public Accounts Committee, as recognised in all multi-party democracies in the Caribbean and the wider Commonwealth family of nations. The chairmanship of the PAC goes to the parliamentary opposition.

Without going into details of their deliberations last Friday on some of the unresolved contentious issues, Jagdeo and Hoyte gave an idea of the range of subjects covered and of their decision to meet again this week to seek answers to lingering differences.

Where goodwill exists, compromise in disputes resolution cannot be insurmountable. The guiding principle must, of course, be to do so in the national interest and without sacrificing on the altar of political expediency fundamental principles and practices in democratic governance.

The parties to which both Jagdeo and Hoyte belong, as well as the minority parliamentary parties and civil society, cannot objectively disagree with this position.

We wish the President and the Opposition Leader well as they continue the dialogue process. Guyanese deserve a more improved environment for peace and progress beyond 2002.