A former member of both the ruling PPP/C and the opposition PNCR who has since formed his own political party is of the view that the two major parties are not really serious about ensuring that the dialogue process succeeds and about shared governance.

According to Eddie Da Silva, leader of the recently formed All Races Party [ARC], "both parties are merely interested in maintaining control over their half of the Guyanese people and do not want to relinquish their hold. The PPP/C was and is still unwilling to reach out to black voters despite numerous calls by some members in the past. Similarly the PNCR rebuffed a suggestion I made during the 1997 elections campaign for the party to reach out to East Indian voters."

During a recent visit to New Amsterdam and East Berbice, Da Silva spoke about several issues including his reason for launching ARC, his experiences as a member of both the PPP/C and the PNCR and reasons for leaving, his party's philosophy and its chances at the next general elections.

He disagrees with the suggestion that his credibility might be questioned because he had joined and left both parties and might therefore be considered as opportunistic. "No. I refused ministerial offers from the late Presidents Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Hugh Desmond Hoyte. However I saw abuse of supporters in both parties where some people were kept close to the leadership because of their ethnicity while others were treated almost like cattle. I left a party [the PPP/C] in 1997 while it was in government and crossed the floor because I saw signs of pro-Indian policies and strategies."

Why did this businessman-turned-politician with roots in Guyana's interior leave the PNCR? "After five years in opposition I thought the party would have turned over a new leaf but this was not to be. What I saw was black predominance. They seem steeped in old confrontational politics, unwilling to introduce changes and to bring in new blood and new ideas in keeping with modern approaches to politics. This is why I left."

Da Silva describes ARC as a capitalist party that is "non-racial...meaning race will not be a factor in its policies and programmes and approaches to governance."

And why does the aspiring President think both parties are not serious about shared governance? "Mrs. Janet Jagan has said in the Mirror newspapers that she is not in favour of power-sharing. The late PNCR leader and President Desmond Hoyte was quoted as saying he did not know what power-sharing meant. Senior members of both parties are also not in favour of shared governance. The PPP/C wants to maintain power at all cost while the PNCR wants to get back into office... not to share power."

Da Silva argues that Guyana's present state is a direct result of race-based politics from two race-based parties who cannot think for all Guyanese. "Their major function is to divide and rule along racial lines. Without large foreign investment our economy will not take off and we will not attract such investment because of race-based politics," he contends. "Our economy will not take off without large scale foreign investment."

Yet, why does he think his party has a chance of winning an election when others have failed in the past? "We have to trust people's intelligence - they are fed up with both political parties and want a change. Both parties have failed to bring all Guyanese onboard and ARC will provide this opportunity for all Guyanese to be involved in governance. Our people need a chance to free themselves up since they are tired of race-based politics, poverty and under-development."

ARC will soon publish its manifesto but will not disclose the names of its members until "the right time" since many are fearful for their lives and of victimisation and/or injury. None of its present members are members of the PPP/C or the PNCR.

"However we have had an overwhelming response to our launching. A number of people have called giving us their support saying Guyana needs such a party that is not based on race."