Dear Editor,
I read the letter captioned “Local government reform could introduce power sharing” (08.03.11) by His Worship, the Mayor of Georgetown with amusement. I am one of the persons calling for a constitution which would allow the parties representing the two major races to govern different areas simultaneously, because I feel this is the only mechanism to move the country forward at this time. Has His Worship looked out his window at his capital recently? It is beginning to look like a ghost town.
I must say, I fully understand the reluctance of the PPP/C to work out any power sharing formula. It is because they cannot trust the PNCR. The example of why the PNCR cannot be trusted exists in the City Hall of the capital. Remember when the PPP and PNCR worked out a formula to rotate the Mayor’s position? The PNCR reneged on the agreement when their term in the driver’s seat was up.
Since now His Worship, the Mayor is calling for power sharing, I would like to see him start practising it himself. I would like him to resign as Mayor now and him along with his members of the council, support a PPP/C councillor for the position of Mayor until the next local government election. How about it Your Worship? You want the PPP/C to share Guyana, why not start by sharing Georgetown with them?
The only party with the support base that may be inclined to introduce a federalist type constitution is the AFC. Because of the bold steps taken by the leaders of this party, before breaking away from their old parties, the PPP/C and the PNCR, they are the only ones at present who may see the wisdom in doing this. I suggest to the AFC that they now seriously consider this and start campaigning now on this platform. You perhaps first need to repair your image by resolving your differences with your former member Goumattie Singh, who left your party because of a perceived unethical manoeuvring within the party.
The AFC needs to take the leadership role in bringing the smaller parties together at this time. They should try to get CN Sharma and Dr Joey Jagan to join a new national front party. I feel this is the only method to bring about change, but you need to start now.
Yours faithfully,
Ganesh Singh
