Human Rights body calls for power sharing
The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is calling on the political parties to share power instead of fighting another divisive election. The GHRA said in a press release that its executive committee had concluded that the tasks to be completed to hold general elections by January 17, 2001, could not be achieved without the kind of "haste which marred the constitutional reform process." It went on to say that "to attempt questionable manoeuvering with the constitutional reform process, the registration process and selection of an Elections Commissioner, to mention only a few of the complex tasks, would invite disaster." It pointed out that even if all the onerous tasks required to meet the Herdmanston Accord mandated deadline were completed, "the foundation of national unity for a peaceful and dignified election does not yet exist." The GHRA believes "a revised, all-embracing strategy centred on strengthening national unity should be developed and reflected in political arrangements. We believe the PPP government should come to an end as envisaged in the Herdmanston Accord on January 17, 2001 and be replaced by some form of power sharing, or government of national unity for the two years remaining in the original life of the present government."
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