Expectations of, and challenges for, the new Government

Guyana Chronicle Editorial

QUITE apart from the customary criticisms of the opposing party, some supporters of the APNU+AFC coalition have begun to whisper about the sloth of the Government in stamping its authority on the political process. Such concerns are understandable. After all, these supporters did not have much to cheer about for over two decades. In such circumstances, the appetite for instant gratification is large. That said, it should be noted that the new Government has only been in office for about eight weeks. Coming into office after a bruising campaign, and after nearly 23 years of governance by the PPP, it is to be expected that they would take some time to find their footing. The challenges are formidable. The first big challenge is the Coalition itself. It is a unique formulation of seven parties; a coalition of a coalition of parties (APNU), and another party (AFC). Within that group, three of the parties have strong ideological and political outlooks. It means, therefore, that there has to be a merger of these independent elements into a cohesive approach to governance. And they have to do this on the job. A second challenge is learning the ropes of government. One of the disadvantages of long-tenured governments is the effect it has on the ability of the opposition to master the crafting of day to day governance in the Executive. Of the 26 ministers in the new government, only two of them have had actual Cabinet experience. This is a critical element. It means that the new ministers, in addition to quickly learning the required governance skills, have to learn the structures of their own ministries, and how to manoeuver relations among the ministries. The third challenge has to do with the hostility from the PPP. In most countries, a new government is usually allowed some space by the outgoing government to settle in. This is an unwritten rule that the PPP has not honoured. The attitude that it was “cheated, not defeated” has informed its non-recognition of what it refers to as the “de facto government”. The parliamentary boycott, for example, robs the government of the broad legitimacy every government craves. Fourthly, the high level of corruption by the previous government, real and perceived, has necessitated a lot of attention of the new rulers. It means that energies that could have been used in other areas are being burnt in trying, for example, to locate Government finances. It is a distraction that the new government could have done without. A fifth challenge is the unexpected renewed Venezuelan claim to Guyana’s territory, and its non-renewal of the PetroCaribe rice deal. The country is, therefore, hit at two crucial fronts: Sovereignty and economy. Meeting these challenges requires the mobilisation of more resources than a new government would normally be required to undertake. We, therefore, urge a tempering of expectations on the part of the wider society. Patience is a necessary ingredient of the contract between the people and their government. This Government needs that luxury more than most.