Moonilal: Lessons from Guyana – No unholy alliance making
I have taken note of the dramatic developments in neighboring Guyana where the coalition government of David Granger Collapsed late Friday night on a motion of no confidence.
It is apparent that the Guyanese people will go to the polls yet again before the scheduled time to elect a new Administration.
We have faith in the people of Guyana to resolve their political disputes and elect a government by the will of the people.
The lessons for this country are many. The Rowley-led PNM government is holding on by their collective finger nails to office. Clearly Granger appeared more popular than Rowley. Given the widespread mismanagement, corruption and arrogance prevailing in government it is a matter of time before the PNM implodes.
The second lesson is that make shift and knee jerk coalitions with a single purpose objective are short lived particularly when given razor slim majorities. The purpose of just removing an incumbent regime cannot hold parties together. There must be a common set of values, principles, built in mechanisms for ongoing dialogue and an agreed program of change that responds to the aspirations of all the people.
Having noted unity sounds over the past week we are cautious to seek any ad hoc relations that respond to the expediency of the time but cannot hold for the longer term. Over the past three and a half years the UNC has led the anti government movement almost single-handedly. As unions and other voices came under attack it was the UNC that stood tall in and out of the parliament exposing the Rowley regime at every turn. Now that the PNM government appears to be on the way out it cannot be that we engage with persons who have not open their mouths in three years against Rowley but parked in a corner sniping the UNC and its leaders.
All would be unity aspirants should now find the courage to attack Rowley and the PNM and not just a select few of us in the frontline. Many who did not find it convenient to identify with the struggles of the parliamentary opposition now talk about uniting to save TnT. The UNC remains united with one leader, one team and one vision. National unity is a foundation principle of the UNC, all are welcomed. But there can be no room for unholy shot gun alliance making.
Guyana just told us this cannot work.