PM extends olive branch to PPP – ‘Come on board, let us talk’
Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamotoo has called for unity talks with the political Opposition, in an effort to achieve a more unified National Assembly. The Prime Minister, who is also leader of the House, is spearheading the unity talks initiative.
According to a GINA report, the administration believes Parliament should be one where there is less confrontation, less arguments, and less expression of animosities and hatred, hence this olive branch extension to the Opposition.
GINA noted that during a recent interview, the Prime Minister explained that it is envisaged that the Parliament, on both the Government and Opposition benches will work in harmony for the greater good of Guyana and its peoples in 2016. Therefore, he has reissued his call to the political Opposition.
“Come on board, let us talk, let us make 2016 the year when we put aside our squabbles, when we stop cussing each other, and this bickering must stop. I want to say that I will not spare any effort in pursing this goal, whether they cuss me up today, and they reject me today, I believe that it is unsustainable to do so forever.”
The Prime Minister has advised that the wave of the future for Guyana is one of national unity and one where the nation embraces itself in oneness.
“For me there is no such thing as an Opposition in a House. We are all partners, and the old concept of our old majesty’s loyal Opposition does not work anymore. We are all nationalists, we are all driven by one agenda, the love of our country, the love of our people, the love of our environment to see that we have a productive and healthy environment, and that we could all be proud,” the Prime Minister said.
He stated that the olive branch which was extended to the PPP, a party which he was associated with for 50 years, is not an idle offer, and it should not be brushed aside.
“… if you take that path that Guyana’s future can be realised by confrontation, then you are inviting others who have their eyes on our country to exploit our division, and it has always been said that division in the face of an enemy is always a poor strategy. It is not even a strategy, it is a blunder, a mistake of monumental proportion,” he stated.
The concept of being an opposition for the sake of opposing should not be applicable as all members of Parliament are seen as patriots, fighting for Guyana and putting forward the best image of the country, he stated.
Nagamootoo also called on Guyanese to recognise that in harmony and unity, national development can be achieved at a faster rate, and urged that they make a solemn under taking to put their country’s image fir