At a Night of Reflection on Wednesday in memory of former Opposition Leader and former Leader of the People’s National Congress, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party and Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, extended an olive branch to the Opposition People’s National Congress Reform, saying that the future of the country is dependent on a new way of thinking and the two parties working together.

Mr. Jagdeo said the two parties had started to solidify their relations under the leadership of Robert Corbin. He noted that while it did now work out then, the country’s current trajectory is dependent on such cooperation.

“I believe that the future of Guyana would involve at some level and some fashion whatever that framework maybe, these parties working together, they have to out of necessity , that is when this country can  accomplish all the dreams of all those who had to feel this country and seek a better fortune elsewhere and the dreams of all those who are living here now, that is how we will achieve it,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

Jagdeo acknowledged that there has been distrust between the two parties. However, he said at its core, the policies of the two parties are similar.

He called for a new approach between the two parties and ‘enlightened thinking’ to get rid of the hurt of the past.

“Many of us grew up in different parties in a very troubled history in our country, much of it was caused by the need for external powers to maintain control of our country, our people were actively divided, there was a campaign to divide them along racial lines in the 60s and many of that live with that hurt and we never overcame it, because we either lived in ethnic enclave or circles we promoted stereotype of each other and that stereotype, led to a paralysis in our thinking and in our actions and a fear that if we were to step out of a group think the think of our party, there will be consequences at a personal level and a career level,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

Jagdeo acknowledged that the two parties have only been separated by race and racial politics, but he said now, it cannot be the old ways of doing things.

“And if we were to bring the same mistrust that harmed us from accomplishing things at the legislative level, into the executive, at the cabinet, we would have a paralysis and the worst thing that can to any government in the world is policy paralysis and therefore we had to work towards building trust so that the two parties can grow closer together,” ,Mr. Jagdeo said.

Mr. Jagdeo said the survival of both political parties is dependent on them working together for the betterment of all.

Mr. Corbin served as Opposition Leader during Jagdeo’s final term as President between 2006 and 2011.

Related posts:

PPP more open to work in the Parliament with APNU than WIN on national interest matters -says Jagdeo Norton sees PNCR as being well positioned to unseat PPP in Government at upcoming elections APNU+AFC’s list represents “face of the future” -says PNCR Jagdeo promises to “work harder now” to ensure PPP victory at next elections