Guyana Times Reports Opposition's Claims Regarding Democratic Principles and Governance
The Guyana Times reports that the Opposition is asserting that the Westminster principle, where the winner of democratic elections takes office as required by the constitution, is not democratic. They are also insisting that the Opposition should be included in the Executive with ministerial positions and benefits, arguing that "shared governance" is the sole form of democracy for Guyana.
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According to the Guyana Times, the Opposition is repeatedly claiming that the Westminster principle, which dictates that the victor of democratic elections assumes office as mandated by the constitution, is not democratic. Furthermore, the Opposition is insisting that they must be incorporated into the Executive, receiving ministerial roles and associated benefits, asserting that "shared governance" represents the only form of democracy for Guyana.
The Guyana Times notes that despite these assertions, the Opposition has maintained this stance for several decades, citing instances such as Desmond Hoyte joining the chorus before his passing. The report points out that when the PPP was voted out in 2015, the PPP was not brought into the government. Additionally, the AFC, which led to the current power structure, was reportedly reduced in size by agreeing to a coalition.
Previously, when the then-PNC leader Corbin proposed his approach, the PPP under Bharat Jagdeo stated that there needed to be "trust" established between the parties seeking shared governance. The report mentions that the PNC's handling of Ramjattan and Nagamootoo from the AFC provided grounds for skepticism. The article questions what has changed since those earlier instances.
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