Given Guyana’s “history of ethnic voting”, A New and United Guyana (ANUG) does not expect to win the March 2 Regional and General Elections, therefore, its programme and promises are based on what it can actually deliver to the Guyanese people by winning the small number of seats it believes are possible to win, the party said today as it launched its manifesto.
The party’s mission is to win enough seats in the National Assembly to prevent a majority by Government in Parliament and to compel the two major “ethnic political parties” to formally or informally co-operate with each other.
ANUG said that its formulation is not to dislodge the two larger ethnic political parties but to force them to govern together.
The party said that if it wins the small number of seats that are necessary for it to hold a parliamentary balance, it will set about establishing the most consensual, participatory, inclusive, transparent democratic regime in the history of Guyana and even the Caribbean.
Under a consensual democracy, ANUG envisages: A presidency of 5 persons (2 PPP/C, 2 APNU+AFC, 1 from largest smaller parties. At minimum, 2 women and 2 youths) who will constitute the Cabinet and rotate as the president; A strict separation of powers: ministers will not be members of the legislature; a proportional parliamentary representation system based the maximum direct constituency representation.
Further, the party envisions radical devolution, where regions and local authorities are given greater autonomy and taxing rights; and improved citizen participation which will allow for regular citizen assemblies, party primaries, referenda, social movements, public hearings, town hall meetings, and other forums of citizen engagement.
ANUG noted that its first and primary task will be Constitutional Reform based upon broad based participation of all stakeholders. If ANUG only wins enough seats in the National Assembly to hold a balance, the first order of the day will be Constitutional Reform to introduce a constitutional system of Shared Governance.
Noting that while the two major political parties have publicly recognized the need for Shared Executive Governance, they have failed to honoured this promise when in power.
“If the governing party fails to implement Constitutional Reform, ANUG’s swing vote will enable the Opposition to return to the electorate by new elections,” the party noted in its manifesto.
It added: “The winner takes all system is not effective; it never has been. It results in retarded social, economic and political development. In the interest of development, ANUG wants all political leaders to work together in the interest of the electorate.”
