It is an issue that is central to the functioning of a parliamentary democracy and one that has been a source of deep concern ever since the PNC/R chose to boycott sittings of Parliament 10 months ago.

That the party's parliamentary representatives continue to gladly receive salary and allowances without participating in the business of the highest forum in the nation is another aspect of the same problem.

The morality of this behaviour by the PNC/R has been previously raised by this newspaper as well as other commentators and contributors to other sections of the local media.

Whatever the original argument advanced for its boycott of Parliament since March 15, 2002, the PNC/R has a most difficult task to justify why its parliamentary representatives must continue drawing salaries/allowances from the national treasury every month while it claims, as it did in its advertisement last week, that "Parliament is a complete waste of time and will remain a puppet show".

It is indeed incredulous that the PNC/R be so insensitive to its own history to ignore its contempt for Parliament that, in its dispensation, was shaped on the basis of rigged elections, and which was reduced to a most thoroughly misused forum under the doctrine of ‘party paramountcy’. Yet, it now boldly talks about the current Parliament in our liberalised, democratic state, being a "puppet show".

A New Initiative
The PPP/C's advertised statement, which came last week as a follow-up to its previous position as outlined in the Stabroek News and Guyana Chronicle of July 1, 2002, has been firm in its rejection of what it said were serious misrepresentations by the PNC/R.

What is of significance, however, is that the PPP/C's statement reflected a more conciliatory tone when compared with that of the PNC/R. It also reaffirmed a commitment to "open discussion and dialogue".

In the circumstances, we invite the PPP/C to now seize the initiative, in accordance with "the spirit of good faith" it alluded to, and resume the bi-partisan dialogue at the level of party representatives, pending the expected election of Mr. Robert Corbin as the PNC/R's new leader.

Such an invitation should proceed with haste and in a genuine spirit of compromise on the part of the PPP/C and the Government so that when the parliamentary opposition eventually elects Mr. Corbin as the new Opposition Leader, he can meet with President Bharrat Jagdeo on the basis of the dialogue process that took place between the President and the now late Mr. Desmond Hoyte, until it was placed "on hold", as announced by the party's leader.

Flexibility must be the guiding principle on both sides - PNC/R and PPP/C. This is what the people of this country want so that the nation's business could be conducted in a healthy political climate and suited to a consensual approach in combating the criminals who are causing such mayhem.

The appointments that are being frustrated at the level of Service Commissions could then take place with, hopefully, positive responses in addressing concerns of the Judiciary, Police Force and other services of the public sector, including the teaching profession.

Guyana has been plunged into a crisis phase by the heavily armed and well-connected criminals. It is imperative that there be goodwill on all sides. The Government has a special responsibility to demonstrate this goodwill, even in the face of what it considers hostile propaganda by its opponents.