The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) yesterday extended congratulations to the new government, wishing it all success.
“We at the Chamber… look forward to the forging of the partnerships so critical to the nation’s economic future,” the Chamber said in a statement.
It indicated that it is critical for the new government to realize the magnitude of the work ahead since a win by less than 10,000 votes is a stark indication that there is a significant constituency that needs to be convinced of the new government’s intention.
It stated, “The vitriol spewed all over social media by both sides of the divide during the election season shows clearly that there is a lot of work to be done.”
The GCCI cautioned that the solution was not to focus only on dispelling the fears of one section of the population but “the establishment of a comprehensive social compact that ensures that all groups are comfortable living and prospering in Guyana.”
The Chamber stated that it is now the opposition’s role to be responsible in Parliament as is expected in functioning democracy. The new government has already indicated its willingness to work with the opposition to carry Guyana forward.
“The last few days were not encouraging of course but we are willing to assume that these are temporary emotions triggered by a loss at the polls,” the Chamber said.
“It is said that the third time is the charm. Once again, we have been given another opportunity to govern ourselves in a manner that will realize the potential that for the past 50 years has been nothing more than a broken promise. It is important we do not squander the opportunity. We may not get it again,” the statement read.
It added that in the year before Guyana celebrates its 50th Anniversary as a nation, Guyanese peacefully selected a new government, showing a level of patience that prevented “us from going down that path of senseless violence and destruction from which it would have been difficult to recover”.
