Pres. Ramotar makes stirring appeal for "genuine" govt-opposition cooperation

Guyana’s President, Donald Ramotar- in his New Year’s Message- appealed for genuine cooperation between the minority government and the majority opposition in the National Assembly. [/size]His call came against the back-drop of ongoing talks between the 26-seat A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the seven-seat Alliance For Change (AFC) over which of the two parties should get the Speakership.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) continues to oppose Nagamootoo on grounds that he is too politically close to the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) and that he had voted in favour of certain offensive laws  while in the government benches not so long ago.

While the PPP, the party that has won  the presidency, and hence the right to form the government, has its  own  recommendation for Speaker, with its parliamentary minority, it  would  have to have the highly unlikely support of one of the opposition  parties for  their candidate to be elected.  The ball is therefore in  the court of the already divided parliamentary opposition to start  things rolling, since Parliament cannot be convened without a Speaker.    In essence, what we have are individuals embroiled in a contentious  decision-making process about the placement of an individual within a  key position.