Kenneth Liverpool - public sector employee:

`The two leaders need to get together and have dialogue, but it shouldn’t be the two parties alone. Guyana is about everybody, not just the PNC or the PPP alone. The emphasis is laid too much on the PNC and the PPP having dialogue. Civil Society, the other parties in parliament, the WPA, ROAR, they should be involved. They have a vital role to play. No matter how small, they have a contribution to make and a part to play whenever all is said and done. Also, what they need to look at is the Constitution. This winner-take-all business, we aren’t achieving anything like this. We should have a system where the party with the most votes will assume the presidency while the second-place party will assume the Prime Minister’s position. If we continue like this every five years we are going to have problems. But I hope that coming out of these two congresses we can see some real action to bring Guyana together and move Guyana forward. Guyana belongs to all of us.’

Carmalita Jamieson - freelance journalist:

Firstly there is a need for more meetings between the main opposition and the government. I think most of the problems plaguing the nation have surfaced because the two political parties are not meeting to discuss the major issues that are affecting the people of the country. Because they are not doing so, the people have decided to voice their opinions in serious ways, using some techniques, which are not conducive to the whole general public. What is also needed is for the government to address all the people of the nation. Not just a specific race or set of people. They need to settle the issues with the people. Perhaps there should be a moderator, Mr [Jimmy] Carter would be good person, or somebody neutral like how Walter Rodney was, or Mr [Eusi] Kwayana. What would be wrong if the President visited Buxton and met with villagers there to address their problems? They have a lot of problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible. The public also needs to be sensitized and here is where the media need to play their part. Government is responsible, to explain what is going on to people, but the media also have a part. Some journalists need to be more accurate and neutral. These current issues are very serious and the media is the means by which people get the message. If we are going to report the wrong information people will get the wrong impression.’

Mark James - graphic artist:

`They should do what everybody else is saying, restart the dialogue. That has to be the first step. For one I think it will bring the two political parties together. Instead of bickering they can be working things out; the issues that matter to the nation. Power sharing is also a very good idea, but then again that has its ups and its downs. As it looks now one party wants to have all the power. The smaller political parties they have not been playing any part in the mess in the country. They have been very quiet and I think it’s time that they should stand-up and have their say. At least they should come out.’

Henry Fordyce - free-
lance photographer:

`The only solution from my analysis is dialogue. I think dialogue is important. But what is also important is that after they leave the bargaining table they need to stick to what they have agreed on. It’s important and for the interest of the country — the two leaders need to come out publicly. A public debate would bring changes to both parties. The opposition leader and the President need to let the people know what is going on. When you look the crime rate is on the increase, police are getting killed and there is discrimination. They need to let the nation know what is going on. Power sharing is also important. No one party must hold the option over everybody. The government agencies, the opposition, leaders in the private sector and the NGOs, they must have a say.’

Celeste Mullin - teacher:

`They can do so by firstly having one main objective, coming together and agreeing on that and the public should be informed of this. They need to serve the country and not themselves. What they should do is look at what can benefit the people, address the needs of the people. Once the parties come together, the general public will do the same thing. They are the ones they look up to. And if the two parties are coming together, it means the NGOs need to be involved to share their views and their perspective of their intentions. The leaders of the nation and the opposition have been separated and naturally the people are following in their footsteps. To initiate change and heal the divide I believe we first need to start at the top.’

Kenneth Glynn - self-employed:

`They can come together and talk. The country was better before, now the crime situation has escalated. They have to come to an agreement. I think there should be a reshuffle in the government and also in the parties. The government is made up of one party, they need to be more inclusive. We need representation from the PPP, the PNC, the WPA, everybody. There should especially be dialogue in Parliament. They should work out their problems there. Instead of walking around they should stay and address the issues. Listen to the government’s side then present their proposals. We need an active parliament.’

Sandra Ridley - self-employed:

First of all the parties need to come together because they are dividing the nation. The people are now divided. Change needs to start at the top. Both parties need to put their proposals on the table and sort it out. But when they do come to an agreement, they don’t act on it. They should implement whatever they have agreed to. They are causing the problems plaguing the nation and if they fail to come to grips with it, nothing can be done. The other parties are trying in their own way and they should have a hearing especially since they are part of the foundation of the country. They may have ideas to lead the nation forward. The main parties don’t seem to want to find a solution, they just want to dominate the scene, but they are not getting anything done. Whatever they say goes. They have the country stagnating.’

Keith Spellen - teacher:

`The parties should come together. That would bring an equilibrium in society and would afford each ethnic group equal attention. An agreement has to be made between the two. But power sharing is a problem by itself; it seems obvious they would not be very willing to share power. But it would be incredible if it should ever happen. But the smaller parties should also be involved. They would have to include the other parties because they would also have a valuable contribution to make to the nation.’

Clifton Andrews - photographer:

`I believe they should all meet for dialogue. Not only the parties but also everyone.
To get the views of everyone. The two parties should not have dialogue because it usually doesn’t amount to anything much. There has been dialogue in the past but what I am talking about is the inclusion of everyone in both dialogue and power sharing. That is the only way if there is ever to be any results for the nation.’

Ornelia Lewis -
university student: