The PNCR says that its submission on shared governance to the Social Partners is not a means of gaining power through the back door but was in response to a request by the Social Partners to find a solution to the current problems facing the country.
Responding to a question at the party’s weekly press briefing held at Congress Place, Sophia yesterday, PNCR Chairman Robert Corbin said that the party as well as the PPP/C and other parliamentary parties were asked to present position papers.
Under the proposal, all parties with at least 5% of votes at elections will share seats at the Cabinet level and form a coalition government, there will be a non-executive President and the Prime Minister will come from the party with the largest amount of votes.
Corbin said that it was fortunate that the PNCR had been talking about the issue of shared governance for a number of years and it was a major subject of discussion at the party’s last biennial congress. As such, he said, the submission was not an overnight opinion nor did the party have to go back to the drawing board.
According to him, the whole concept of inclusivity to the PNCR was not new. He said that in the party’s constitutional reform submission several years ago the issue was put forward but regrettably, the commission was working on a basis of general consensus.
Corbin said that the PNCR has made available its submission for wider public discussion within a national participatory process. He emphasised that the paper was primarily intended to facilitate national discussion and resolution of the complex issues and challenges which any form of shared governance entails.
Using a prepared text, he said that the party hopes that a national consensus will result from the joint consultation process and wider public participation in the determination of the final outcome.
The position paper, he said, was the product of lengthy discussions led by a special committee, headed by Central Executive Member James McAllister, Vincent Alexander, Joe Hamilton, Stanley Ming and Hamley Case. It was set up by the Central Executive Committee.
Commenting on the paper circulated by the Social Partners, Corbin said the group had indicated that it was guided by the observations made at the Joint Consultation held on September 11 and attempted to reflect the consensus reached. The party, he said, welcomed the initiation of the first stage of the Joint Consultation process and commended the Social Partners for their efforts so far.
McAllister, who was present at the briefing, said those who refer to the PNCR’s desire for power or access to power were those consumed with power, which is to the detriment of the nation. The proposals, he said, were meant to put in place an environment to enrich the nation for the benefit of Guyanese.
In promulgating its idea, he said that the PNCR plans to hold meetings in villages, with groups and at ‘bottom houses’ across the country to state why the PNCR has made the proposal and why it can benefit all Guyanese.