After one year of a new political dispensation in Guyana, Guyanese are yet to see the promised change for which they voted. The performance of the combined opposition in the 10^th parliament is dismal at best. And since the combined opposition with its one seat majority took to the 10^th Parliament in Guyana, the PPP administration has made them look ineffective, disorganized and irrelevant.

The combined opposition, it seems, was naive about the role it would play in parliament with its one seat majority. Perhaps they did not quite understand the role they ought to be playing in parliament with their one seat majority advantage. From the failed tripartite talks to the ineffective no-confidence vote against the minister of home affairs, the opposition seems to be unable to achieve anything substantial in parliament with its majority.

Some may argue that the budget cuts were some kind of victory. There was no opposition victory in that endeavor. The Finance Minister is taking money from the consolidated fund to pay contract workers throughout the bloated governmental bureaucracy. Everything the opposition sanctions in parliament is being challenged in court by the government.

Democracy in Guyana it seems is only applicable to the ability to have ‘free and fair’ elections every five years. Certainly the PPP does not operate democratically. The current attitude of the PPP administration in parliament clearly highlights their refusal to recognize the slightest existence of parliamentary democracy in Guyana. Parliament in Guyana is now reduced to a circus where highly trained clowns perform loquaciously for each other.

Where does that leave the combined opposition? Many argue that the combined opposition is reaping the rewards of their narrow political objectives which saw them refusing to come together and form a grand coalition to contest the last general election. The lack of foresight that prevented the opposition from forming a grand coalition can now be seen as their detriment. Today they are masquerading in parliament like a toothless lion.

There is much talk about constitution reform and a long list of other reforms by the opposition; reforms that the government will never assent to. The opposition can only dream of the things they hope to achieve but never will, because of the inflexibility of the executive. Perhaps retrospectively, the opposition more so the Alliance For Change (AFC), might be regretfully wishing they had united to contest the last general election.

The AFC ought to be ashamed of the ridiculous stance it took before going to elections last year. Somehow they felt that being a part of APNU was somehow going to damage their political image. That misguided approach could not be more imprudent and further from the truth. Both APNU and AFC campaigned along very similar socio-political issues that one wonders whether the AFC’s refusal to join the partnership was merely a politically immature display of ego. They both want constitution reform, economic recovery and development, good governance, the eradication of corruption, a reduction in crime, elimination of the drug trade, and many other good things for Guyana. One must wonder whether the AFC will ever reform its bullish nature and sensibly work at rescuing Guyana with all the help it can get. 

APNU has made it clear that it is ready to work with any and all political parties providing their political objectives are aligned.

It is time Guyanese begin to see the formation of a grand political partnership for the people taking root. The AFC and APNU must recognise that together they must unite to bring significant change to Guyana. They must realize by now that neither can win the majority of votes on its own; they need each other. Until they can bring about significant constitution reform that removes the kingly powers of the executive, then Guyana will only continue to drift into becoming a failed state and the opposition itself run the risk of becoming extinct.

The only viable option for the removal of the PPP is a grand coalition of all the opposition parties.