Democrats and demagogues do not belong around the same table
Kaieteur News President Joe Biden has not offered to hold any talks with former US President Donald Trump. Nor has he been required to engage in political dialogue with the political Opposition.
And no one insists that such negotiations are necessary for democracy to be healthy. Political dialogue is not a requirement for democratic government.
There is no barrier in the United States over Joe Biden’s failure to have talks with Trump. In fact, Trump even robbed the traditional meeting, which usually takes place between the outgoing President and the President-elect.
There have been no calls for a political dialogue between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labor Leader Keir Starmer. Such dialogue is not essential to the health of British democracy.
It is therefore surprising to hear that US and UK foreign missions in Guyana are encouraging dialogue between the President and the Leader of the Opposition. Even more surprising is that this proposal is being considered in terms of achieving a stronger democracy.
President Ali has no reason to want to meet the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon. President Ali recognizes the latter as Leader of the Opposition but there is no indication that Opposition Leader Harmon is returning.
Ali has called on Harmon to come off the false narratives. He has taken a realistic stance that the Leader of the Opposition must recognize before any talks can take place. Constitutional appointments appear to be the exception in which case consultations are mandatory although this does not necessarily imply that it must be face-to-face consultations.
Dialogue between the government and the Opposition is not a condition for democratic government. It is not in the United States and the United Kingdom and should not be in Guyana.
The health of democracy requires paramount respect for the right of citizens to elect their government. It relies on respect for civil liberties – freedom of expression and connection – and respect for other human rights such as freedom from arbitrary arrest.
There is no police state in Guyana although the Force is far from being an exemplary professional organization. Freedom of expression is not threatened by the government. The Opposition can hardly complain about not communicating its views. Social media has paid off any attempts by any government to suppress dissenting views.
The institutions for securing sound political arguments have not been offset. The Opposition has a voice in the National Assembly. It is not de-recognized in the National Assembly. How can a political entity, which paid little attention to electoral democracy, expect to engage in political dialogue?
The threat to democracy comes from the Opposition. The Opposition, APNU + AFC, who desperately tried to hold power against the expressed will of the people in the 2nd March 2020 elections. The actions of the APNU + AFC, which threatened electoral democracy and pushed Guyana back into political dictatorship.
The British and the United States, along with Canada and the European Union, refused to accept this threat to democracy. And were it not for the stance they took, the APNU + AFC would have run hard over the wishes of the people of Guyana.
The APNU + AFC seemed ready to control via hook or stick. But what doesn’t get enough recognition is the fact that most of their supporters have rejected their attempt to unlawfully denounce the nation. The attempt to rail the elections did not gain traction with the majority of APNU + AFC supporters. They did not take to the streets in large numbers and this represented their rejection of any threat of returning to a dictatorship.
The Opposition, which shot itself in the foot after the March 2nd elections. It was the Opposition, which attracted international condemnation because of the shenanigans it employed. It was the Opposition, which brought shame and disgrace to the country and to herself.
The Opposition is wholly responsible for its current difficulties. It exacerbates those problems by labeling it absurd on government as a imposed regime.
Democrats and demagogues do not belong around the same table. Political dialogue must be based on the acceptance of democracy and until and unless the Opposition is willing to admit to losing the elections and until it is ready to show that it has rejected electoral skullduggery, it has no place in democratic politics.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper.)