No contrived system of government such as “executive power sharing” will succeed where there is an absence of trust and good faith between the parties, President Bharrat Jagdeo said yesterday.
Presenting his party and government’s view on the issue to a State House audience made up of government ministers, diplomats and representatives from civil society, President Jagdeo also said that “executive power sharing” was associated with negative consequences such as the institutionalisation of ethnic rivalry, and the absence of political opposition.
He went on to say that the PPP/C believed that a conscious effort is required by the parties to build trust, otherwise suspicion will continue, policies will be judged on distorted criteria, and resource allocation will be followed by allegations of partisanship.
Jagdeo reiterated the view that the constitutional amendments should be implemented as an immediate measure to build the necessary trust and confidence, and “to further enhance inclusive governance.” With the amendments in place, President Jagdeo promised, “The PPP/C will expand on these efforts by encouraging broader cooperation by all forces involved in public affairs but particularly the political parties.”
He said that the collaborative efforts would include establishing means and facilities to enhance the work of the parliamentarians and strengthen their ability to represent their constituents; improving the discourse between the government and opposition by the appointment of shadow ministers who can represent their views on policy to the government and be apprised of policy developments by the government; and augmenting ties between the political parties through discussions and debates which will also contribute to building confidence.
The President also proposed that the parties should devise “additional ways of working closer together in a non-partisan way at the local government level where national political controversies generate less divisions and where development and implementation issues give rise to the possibility of greater cooperation in the short term.” According to Jagdeo, the measures he proposed that the parties adopt, “are vital for our political development and the emergence of a new political culture characterised by greater trust, civility and commitment to the national interest.”
Acknowledging that he is encouraged by recent pronouncements by the PNCR in which it indicated a commitment to constructive engagement, President Jagdeo expressed the hope, “that these engagements will result in the acceptance of these and other proposals to solve national issues, to build trust and to improve relations between our political parties.
“In an environment created by deepening trust and confidence, further arrangements for inclusive governance can result after consultation with our constituents and the electorate.”
Commenting on the amendments to the constitution, President Jagdeo said that they have resulted in the country having one of the most advanced constitutions in the world and the most advanced in the Caribbean. He said that his proposals are intended to return the focus to implementing the amendments to the constitution rather than on devising new governance arrangements.
The outstanding amendments, which have not been implemented because of the political impasse and on which President Jagdeo wants the parties to collaborate as an immediate measure of building trust, are the appointment of the Rights Commissions; the Parliamentary Manage-ment Committee; the Service Commissions; and the Standing Committees.
“The establishment of these and other bodies provided for in the constitution and their... functioning will generate confidence and increasing cooperation and good-will.”
Other significant features of the constitution which he said “make Guyana the most advanced in terms of inclusiveness and Opposition involvement in governance in the Caribbean region and certainly one of the most advanced in the world” are the reduction of the powers of the Presidency, institutionalisation of the participation of social groups in the decision making process involving the National Assembly in the appointment of the service commissions (judicial, teaching, police and public service), the creation of commissions on ethnic relations, procurement, gender rights, the rights of the child, indigenous peoples and human rights, the creation of a standing committee on constitutional reform and a commission to review the functioning and composition of the security forces.
He reiterated the view that, “The Human Rights, Ethnic Relations and Procurement Commissions established in a bipartisan way together can address allegations of police excesses, ethnic discrimination and corruption, which are some of the main unsubstantiated accusations which the Opposition has levelled against the Government.”
President Jagdeo in his presentation also alluded to the dialogue he had with the late PNCR leader Desmond Hoyte and some of the achievements he claimed that resulted from that engagement.
In the audience was former President Janet Jagan, the sole surviving founder-member of the Political Affairs Commit-tee to which President Jagdeo traced the PPP’s commitment to inclusive governance.
Other speakers at yesterday’s presentation were PPP/C General Secretary Donald Ramotar and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who chaired the proceedings.