Opposition Leader has to keep the conversation going

Dear Editor,

I read in the press that the Opposition Leader has refused the invitation from the President to meet with him next Wednesday. Editor, this is where as a citizen we step out from being a mere observer and say to the Opposition Leader in no uncertain terms, that he cannot refuse the President’s invitation, he has to keep the conversation going; even if he comes out of the meeting and complain, but he has to keep talking.

This is not Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo meeting with the President, it is the Opposition Leader. I can accept if he says that he is not meeting with the Ministers or even the Prime Minister perhaps, but not the President; even if it is to show that there is still respect for one authority in the country.

While I totally understand the reasons for the Opposition Leader’s refusal and the issues of the Opposition and others relative to the Government’s approach on certain matters, as a citizen, I cannot accept our Opposition Leader refusing an invitation from our President, especially at this very sensitive point.

This country is in a very sensitive situation and Mr. Jagdeo as Opposition Leader has a major role to play in maintaining stability in the country.

Mr. Jagdeo, you and the PPP/C have been doing a good job so far. I think that the world is seeing democracy at work, perhaps at its highest. The intellectual skill, expertise and manoeuvrings, as well as controls we have seen over the past two months since the No Confidence Motion was passed, have been remarkable on both sides.

I am not for one moment indicating that the Constitution and Laws must not be upheld, whether it is by the Government of others, but whatever pathway the process takes, we do not want our country to descend into chaos.

So please Mr. Jagdeo, you have to respect the request from the President; he is still the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, our children are observing.

Yours faithfully, Audreyanna Thomas