VP Jagdeo was asked at his weekly press conference about speculations that the PPP mightn’t be able to garner a majority at the Sept 1st elections – leading to a “hung” Parliament. So what’s this “hung” business? Well, because of our (peculiar?) constitutional stipulations, parties can’t enter into coalitions AFTER the elections. But the one with the LARGEST number of seats (a PLURALITY rather than a MAJORITY) captures the presidency and the Executive!! The Parliament is said to be “hung” since the Government can’t pass any bills to make any decisions on Government actions!! The expression came from the term “hung jury” – when the jury can’t agree on a verdict!
In such a situation, however, if the largest party can get the support of other parties to reach a majority in Parliament – then the business of Government can go on!! Under such an ad hoc arrangement one cannot speak of a “coalition”, as was posed in a question to the VP. As we found out in 2011, a “hung” Parliament actually was formed with the PPP capturing the Presidency and executive with 32 seats and the AFC’s 7, with APNU’s 26 outnumbering them!! The PPP called an early election!!
But the VP unequivocally asserted that there ain’t gonna be no hung Parliament in 2025!! He knows that under such a scenario, the Government would always be a “lame duck” since the opposition parties could call a “no confidence” motion at any time and throw the Government out!! He declared, “We’ve seen the numbers on the ground. We’ve done the testing. We are on track to win the elections outright.” And in Guyana, winning means getting at least 33 seats – never mind the Opposition’s special math about an “absolute” majority demanding 33!!
So let’s examine whether the VP’s just whistling in the dark!! The reporter had implied the PPP’s support in Indigenous communities was being eroded by “other” – read WIN! – parties. Now, while the VP dismissed WIN’s Sanction Man’s intense efforts – and money handouts! – which had gotten publicity, it should be noted that the PPP’s never gotten 100 per cent of the Indigenous votes!! It’s more than likely that – as has happened on the coastland – WIN’s hiving off the Opposition PNC and AFC’s shares, since those parties have shown themselves to be so anaemic no one sees them as a viable alternative to the PPP!!
On the coast, the PPP’s unrelenting efforts to include African and Mixed Guyanese in the transformation in all sectors of national life are bearing fruit – especially with youths!! Your Eyewitness really believes this election’s gonna be historic for breaking the ethnic determinism of our elections.
As the VP said, the PPP’s gonna get their majority hands down!!
…India’s independence
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since India made its “tryst with destiny” and became independent – along with Pakistan – on Aug 15, 1947!! It’s now the fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP and the third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP) – along with being the most populous nation on planet Earth!! It can now feed itself – having brought 400 million out of absolute poverty – and send rockets to the far side of the moon. But yet, it’s the Rodney Dangerfield of nations which don’t get no respect!! Especially from the west!
What’s going on?? Your Eyewitness believes it all boils down to that “turn all four cheeks” pushed by Gandhi that has stuck to the country. Truth is, while Gandhi’s example might work for individual persons – and your Eyewitness has his doubts!! – it’s disastrous for nations!! Here the rule is ‘might is right and the devil takes the hindmost’!
India gotta quit playing Mr Nice Guy – and start kicking some (disrespectful) butts!!
…new (int’l) rules
The US under President Trump just announced it’s relaunching the “war on drugs” (WoD) that seemed to have gone off the radar while they promoted democracy around the world. The goal, of course, is to cut the supply chain!!
