The debate is no longer whether Guyana needs an alternative form of government but rather what would be the most appropriate system, says PNCR Chairman, Vincent Alexander.

However, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira feels that the issue of shared governance in Guyana is a process that needs to evolve out of discussions.

Alexander, Teixeira and economist, Professor Clive Thomas exchanged views on `Shared governance as a mechanism for Conflict Resolution in Guyana’ at a forum held at the University of Guyana on Tuesday. The forum was sponsored by the University of Guyana/Clark Atlanta University’s Democratisation and Conflict Resolution in Guyana Project.

Thomas cautioned that the most common shared governance model might take as much as three years to allow for systems to become decentralised. Despite the threat that running a government without an opposition could cause gridlock, he put forward a number of reasons for shared governance. This included mitigating the sense of exclusion and racial insecurity in multi-ethnic societies that can lead to extremism.

Another factor is the “depth-side” in which there is a decline in the economy and an increase in social problems. He noted that inspite of the best natural and human resources the quality of life and standard of living of Guyanese had deteriorated because of political problems.

He added that in the current system of governance there was no fundamental separation of powers even after reforms had been put in place. In spite of free and fair elections and the removal of the former administration under which Guyanese experienced executive totalitarianism, he noted that executive totalitarianism continued up to now.

The general feeling from the audience was that Guyana was in a crisis and some form of shared governance should have already been put in place. But Teixeira felt the situation was not as bad as people were making it out to be.

Alexander said the PNCR was highly encouraged that support for executive power sharing in Guyana had widened significantly in recent times.

He said Guyana’s political history had unambiguously shown that the present political arrangements did not allow Guyana to rise to its fullest potential.

The winner-take-all system had stymied the best efforts of even the well-intentioned, he said, adding that it had created an environment where large sections of the population felt marginalised.

He said the system had created open conflicts threatening the social fabric. There had been a loss of national pride, a rise in ethnic distrust, an inability to tap the country’s vast natural resources and the incapacity in fixing the country’s problems.

He said the PNCR was no longer prepared to invest the country’s future and the welfare of the Guyanese people in a failed political system. He said the party believed that Guyana must seek shared governance with its central tenet being executive power-sharing.

Noting the PPP/C’s earlier suggestion of inclusive governance, Alexander said the PNCR would ensure that the issue of shared governance became a major issue on the agenda of the talks between the parties.