Gov’t upholding constitutional requirements for shared governance
–Teixeira
Presidential Adviser on Governance and Chief Whip for the Government, Ms. Gail Teixeira
PRESIDENTIAL Advisor on Governance, Ms. Gail Teixeira, contends that shared governance does not necessarily mean a government of national unity.
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee
She made it clear that there are constitutional provisions for shared governance; requirements that are being fulfilled by the current Administration.
“The issue (is) that people think shared governance means a national unity government. I am not sure shared governance means that. We continue to uphold the Constitution and what it allows,” she told the Guyana Chronicle in an invited comment.
The Presidential Advisor cited the appointment of several constitutional commissions, such as the Judicial Service and Police Service commissions, as areas of shared governance.
Teixeira said, “The constitution provides areas for shared governance already, in terms of appointments on a variety of things; and therefore, those areas of the constitution that have not been fulfilled, mainly because of the links between the President and the Leader of the Opposition, have been outstanding for years.”
President Donald Ramotar and the Leader of the Opposition, Brigadier (Rt) David Granger, had met in May, as was constitutionally mandated, to address the reconstitution of the Service Commissions. The National Assembly last Thursday approved the names of nominees for the two Commissions.
Over the last two weeks, there has been increased commentary on the issue of shared governance and talk of a ‘one-nation government’ by the Opposition Leader.
General-Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr. Clement Rohee, has noted that shared governance has never been taken off the Party’s agenda, but the issue of trust, which is critical to advancing the concept of ‘shared governance’, has been “torpedoed by narrow, partisan political” interests.
“The question of trust remains on the table,” he said in response to questions posed by the Guyana Chronicle during a news conference held at Freedom House on Robb Street, on August 11.
Of the PPP’s many attempts at building trust, he said: “The first attempt at building trust with the PNC (People’s National Congress) as a government and as a party started under the Hoyte era…. In that period, a number of initiatives were taken, including constitutional reform…. Recall that, under the Hoyte administration, we did attempt to build trust; we also had many other initiatives, such as the depressed communities initiative.
“Mr. Corbin attempted to continue with this sojourn, but he ran into a number of problems. Elections were subsequently held, and that process ran aground…. We continue to push ahead with this concept (with Mr. Granger).”
Noting that it was unfortunate that recent efforts were not allowed to bear fruit, given that agreements reached between the two major political parties had by then begun to unravel, Rohee said:
“Trust requires both parties, not one. Trust is something that has to be mutually built. The Government has certain responsibilities, the party also has responsibilities to build trust with all stakeholders.”
He is, however, heartened by the fact that the PPP has been able to make significant headway with several sections of Guyana’s population, such as the faith-based organizations; the religious community; several non-governmental organisations (NGO); and the private sector.
That being said, Rohee disclosed: “The question therefore rises over what and where is the ‘fly in the ointment’ in respect of trust-building with the Opposition. And the answer to that is clear and simple: The opposition’s agenda, as they have repeated time and again, is that they want to see the back of the PPP/C administration…. It follows, therefore, that they will work towards that end; they are doing everything in their will to realise their objective.”
He maintained that while the Party’s “thrust towards a national democracy” has taken into account, and will continue to take into account, the matter of shared governance, trust building towards a national democracy requires multi-stakeholder participation.
Source -- http://guyanachronicle.com/gov...r-shared-governance/
