Granger calls for collision-free Parliament in 2014

Opposition Leader David Granger

Opposition Leader David Granger is calling for 2014 to not be a year where government and the opposition parties collide in Parliament, but rather one of cooperation and transparency.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday at his Hadfield, Georgetown office, Granger said the administration should start by respecting the decisions made by the National Assembly as he pointed to the bills passed, but not assented to.

“We want President Ramotar to assent to the bills that the assembly has passed, we want President Ramotar to implement the resolutions of the National Assembly, we want good governance, that’s what we are fighting for,” Granger said.

The opposition leader is also calling for the establishment of a new social contract that will pave the way for national unity, guarantee human safety and foster economic development growth.

He said major sections of society, including the government, political opposition, trade unions, private sector and civil society should seek an agreement on a broad national programme to accelerate growth of the country over a two-year period.

Combined talents

The contract will combine the talents of a wider constituency and simultaneously create conditions for social cooperation and economic progress as it fulfils its objective.

“The three-fold purpose of such a contract would be to reach a broad consensus on the goals of national development; to establish a sustainable institutional architecture; and to create effective policy instruments for the achievement of the objectives of the contract,” Granger explained.

Questioned whether the call is a realistic one, the opposition leader said he is more than optimistic. “Bearing in mind what the president had to say in his New Year’s address, he seems to be very worried because he himself acknowledged that there were obstacles to what he calls the transformative agenda.

“Well, if he wants to remove those obstacles, let him come to the negotiating table, sit down with the opposition and let us decide how the country will move forward.”

In justifying the need for a new social contract, Granger opined the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration has demonstrated an inability to address issues of national interest, noting that the economic crisis has lowered workers’ standard of living.

“Protests by two of the country’s largest trade unions, the Guyana Public Service Union and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, have demonstrated how labour relations between the state and its workers have degenerated. The ranks of unemployed young people are increasing. Poverty is rampant,” the opposition leader noted.

Unimpressive rating

Reference was also made to the World Bank 2014 World Development Report which rated Guyana as the second poorest country in Caricom. According to the report, Guyana’s Gross National Income (GNI) of US$3410 per capita is unfavourable when compared with The Bahamas, which has a GNI of US$21,280 per capita.

“The security crisis has disproportionately hurt the poor. Guyanese are pained by the surge in serious crimes last year, 2013, representing a seven per cent increase over the same period in 2012,” Granger said.

He added that there was an increase in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms by 16 per cent while contending that other serious crimes include banditry in the hinterland, murder, piracy, fatalities on the roads and interpersonal violence.

Granger told reporters that the PPP/C administration should start addressing issues affecting Guyanese by honouring its obligation, noting that tripartite consultations with workers’ and employers’ organisations should continue in an effort to promote increased production and productivity.

APNU is also advising the government to establish a framework for genuine consultation among social partners and to implement national economic and social programmes, in keeping with the Caricom Charter of Civil Society for the Caribbean Community.