The Alliance For Change and the Guyana Action Party say they are satisfied that the current engagement between some political stakeholders and President Bharrat Jagdeo is a first step towards inclusiveness in tackling major issues and problems encountered in this society.
This engagement came in the aftermath of the recent massacres at Lusignan and Bartica which claimed the lives of 23 people.
The Guyana Government and four political parties signed an agreement on Tuesday night which includes support for the administration in securing help for the fight against crime from the international community.
The AFC and GAP said in a joint release that it is hoped that “these points of agreement can be the first steps in a broad-based effort to realize solutions to the grave national security crisis raging in Guyana.”
The AFC and GAP/ROAR declared that this approach based on consensus and consideration of the suggestions of all stakeholders, including the parliamentary political parties and representatives from civil society, can bring to the table long lasting solutions.
And it is hoped, they said, that at subsequent meetings more details in terms of timelines for achieving specific actions, responsibilities for implementation and follow-up will be discussed and revealed to the public.
Further, the AFC and GAP/ROAR said they expect that this “new approach will be characterized by a demonstration of genuineness and sincerity of commitment, and that political opportunism which had previously excluded meaningful discussion, will not occur.”
The parties also underscored that they are committed to the process of inclusiveness which can only be of benefit to the people of Guyana.
The release noted that the AFC and GAP had previously stated their views on the security issues and were encouraged that the other political parties have now endorsed their positions regarding agreement to the review of the National Security Plan by stakeholders and an accelerated implementation of the decisions arising from this process.
Moreover, the call for international assistance in the fight against crime was made by AFC and GAP in its very first release, the parties observed, and this call has been accepted as a reasonable course of action, which hopefully will help in this most important cause.
But while welcoming the engagement with the President and Government of Guyana with parliamentary political parties and other stakeholders, the AFC and GAP also recognised the continuing need to examine the contributing factors of the current escalation of criminal acts, which may be the beginning to finding long-term solutions to the current situation. This, they said, should be examined most urgently, although it was not included in the joint statement.
According to the release, observing that NCN’s political posturing on the television station in the aftermath of both the Lusignan and Bartica massacres ran contrary to creating a safe space for all Guyanese in these difficult times, the political parties agreed to exercise caution in the manner in which they express their views in the media, bearing in mind the important need for social cohesion.
The AFC and GAP also reiterated their continued support for the security services, adding that it is expected that they will “carry out their very difficult duties with professional dedication and within the confines of the law.”
