Dear Editor,
It is truly heartening to see that some opposition political parties have signalled their intention of working together for the betterment of Guyana, as they prepare for elections 2011. At this time when Guyanese are desperately searching for an alternative to the abominable 18 year rule of the PPP/C, opposition political leadership needs to rise up and demonstrate to all that they have vision, strategy, tactics, morality and wisdom to collectively rescue this nation.
At this crucial juncture in our political history, there is no time for political tunnel vision, ego or nonsensical pomposity. Guyana needs new political leadership and it must be done through a coalition movement.
The PNCR is on the verge of new leadership. That party must show all that it is relevant to the Guyanese political landscape. The executive leadership structures of the PNCR must be reformed accordingly to ensure that it reflects the transparency and accountability of leadership. Divisive internal party politics must be eradicated. Those who are undoubtedly the party’s best strategists and leaders must be allowed to function effectively for the good of its constituencies and other stakeholders.
I wish the joint opposition every success as they collectively make an attempt at tackling the next general elections on a unified front. As they engage civil society and other organizations and groups which have aligned their visions and values with it, I sincerely look forward to the presentations that will reveal the structure of a coalition movement and a comprehensive proposal for rescuing this nation and stopping the rapid underdevelopment that has taken place within the last 18 years.
Law and order must return to Guyana. Corruption must be eradicated. Political leadership must be accountable to the taxpayers who pay their wages and who might have placed them in office. Discrimination must not remain alive and well. Guyanese must learn to vote on issues rather than race. Guyana must develop and remove itself from the pauperized columns of the global financial ledger. Guyana needs new political leadership.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Francois
