The PNCR’s proposals on shared governance are drawing cautious comments from the other parliamentary parties.
The proposal was submitted to the Social Partners under the hand of the party’s general secretary, Oscar Clarke, who told Stabroek News that it had been submitted to the PNCR’s central executive committee which had discussed and approved it.
Central executive member, James McAllister, headed a committee, which included among others Vincent Alexander, Joe Hamilton, Stanley Ming and Hamley Case, to draw up the document.
The PNCR submitted its shared governance proposals to the Social Partners in response to the Social Partners’ background paper on bringing into operation Article 13 of the Constitution.
Article 13 says “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for participation of the citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-making process of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their lives.”
PPP/C’s general secretary, Donald Ramotar, calls the proposal, which includes the concept of a multiparty cabinet and a non-executive President, as “interesting”, based on what he had read in the Sunday Stabroek of December 8.
But he declined to comment further as he said that the document was not sent to his party but to the Social Partners.
Desmond Trotman of the Working People’s Alliance and Ravi Dev of ROAR both called the document historic but said that their parties had not had the time to study it fully.
Both say that their parties would be submitting their proposals on shared governance.
Social Partners spokesman Dr Peter deGroot who chairs the joint consultations of the political parties told Stabroek News that the various proposals would be tabled when the consultations resume. The last full consultation of the parties was on September 11, at which the Social Partners’ paper on shared governance was the main agenda item.
The United Force leader, Tourism Minister Manzoor Nadir, declined to comment on the document saying he had not had the time to study it.
Meanwhile, the Social Partners are yet to finalise a joint statement following the last meeting of the parties on the crime communiqué. The meeting was adjourned to allow the Social Partners to consult among themselves following a letter from former army Chief of Staff, Major General (rtd) Joe Singh, asking to be withdrawn from consideration for appointment to the Security Advisory Committee.
The committee is to be established to oversee the implementation of a menu of measures to address the crime situation.