ANPU ‘social contract’ proposal… : Action! Not ‘fanciful’ words! : -the rallying call in some quarters

THE call for a new ‘social contract’ by the grouping, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has been met with strong criticism in some quarters.In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, one source, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I am not impressed by these statements of grandeur. Action has to be demonstrated, not statements coined in fanciful words. Tangible actions are what have to be demonstrated.”

APNU proposed Friday that a new ‘social contract’ be agreed upon in order to address Guyana’s pressing political, economic and social problems, and to foster greater unity, security and progress.

This new contract that APNU has proposed focuses on allowing major sections of society – including the Government, political Opposition, trade unions, private sector, and civil society – to settle on a broad national programme to move the country forward in relation to reaching a consensus on the goals of national development; establishing a sustainable institutional architecture, and creating an effective policy instrument for achieving the objectives of this ‘contract’.

In a statement, APNU said: “A ‘social contract’ could be the main means of combining the talents of a wider constituency and of creating the conditions for social cooperation and economic progress.”

While our source acknowledged the need for political dialogue and wide consultations, he made it clear that there is evidence of this at each level of the Government structure.

He said: “We recognize that there is much more work to be done, and there are problems to solve. We recognize the need to have political dialogue, and (we) have been working with the relevant stakeholders, both at the individual and organizational levels, in the move to build a modern and united Guyana.”

NOT RECIPROCAL Noting that while the Government has been engaged in consultations, and will continue to so do, our source, who has strong ties with the ruling People’s Pregressinve Party, lamented the absence of reciprocal actions from the Opposition. “What we see are examples of authoritarianism, and evidence of political dictatorship clearly evident in their approach,” he said.

To bolster his argument, he referred to the repeated slashing of the national budget, and the lack of support for developmental projects and important pieces of legislation. “What we have seen,” he said, “is the lack of support for major development projects, on the basis that if they are realized, it will result in political kudos for the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/ Civic). Projects like the specialty hospital, the Marriot Hotel, the modernization of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and Amaila Falls.

“What we see is lack of support for important legislation like the AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering & Countering the Financing of Terrorism) Bill for infantile political reasons, caring not how damaging it will be on the country and lives of the Guyanese people.”

Another source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said its is the Opposition parties’ position over the last two years that has contributed to creating the crisis their ‘social contract’ now hopes to address, thereby “ensuring human safety and fostering economic development in Guyana” as the contract says.

“We have seen the Opposition reject the voices of thousands in the business community with the rejection of the Private Sector’s petition to the National Assembly on the passage of the AML/CFT Bill, and again the thousands of stakeholders with the rejection of the petition on the Cricket Bill,” he said.

This caused him to question APNU’s current call, after clear demonstrations of disinterest in real consultations that could have seen parties reaching consensus positions, and in the face of an authoritarian approach.

Noting that the selfish motives of Opposition factions have been laid bare to the public with their support of the $300M USAID-funded Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) project, which was rejected by the Government, and which “threatens” Guyana’s national sovereignty, Source Number Two said:

“The (joint) Opposition has supported this project because they perceive (themselves receiving) some political benefits, and so (they) have sacrificed national interest at the altar of selfish politics.”

FACING A CRISIS And, responding to APNU’s charge that the current administration is “incapable of solving the country’s current crisis” on its own, when it made the call for the ‘social contract’, a third source, who has a paralegal background, stoutly declared:

“I reject any notion that suggests the PPP/C is incapable of effectively addressing any problem confronting the people of Guyana.” He said the current administration has a 60-year-old legacy under which it won freedom and independence for the Guyanese people, and was the vanguard in the struggle against political oppression, brutality, economic sabotage and stagnation and underdevelopment – all events that occurred under the rule of the People’s National Congress (PNC), now the majority stakeholder in the APNU coalition.

“When we left power in the 60s” he said, “Guyana was a leader in the Caribbean economically, and we boasted the most educated people. When we took over in 1992, what we inherited was a bankrupt State, with a people whose spirit was broken and every aspect of social and economic, as well as the physical infrastructure, was in tatters.

“Now here we are, 21 years later, and we have rebuilt this country; we have transformed the political, economic and social infrastructure of this nation, and Guyana is once again a leader in the Caribbean in terms of economic growth — a fact recognized by international agencies as well as leaders