President Ali providing support while Opposition exploits a national tragedy

President Irfaan Ali and his Government have been responding to one of Guyana’s worst national tragedies. The President himself has been on the ground daily. He has been meeting one-on-one with survivors and with families who have lost loved ones. He has been in close contact with responders from both the public and private sectors. President Ali and his Government have been trying their best to ensure the survivors and those who have lost loved ones get all support humanly possible.
Ruminations cannot help thinking that some people, mostly Opposition politicians and the usual anti-PPP band, behave as if this tragedy was something that could benefit them. While Ruminations simply cannot fathom that anyone would absolutely want such a tragedy, these anti-Government persons believe they could exploit the tragedy to gain political support. There is no doubt that the anti-Government crew has wasted no time in ensuring they politicise the tragedy to mobilise political support.
Let us be clear – it is a national obligation that the capsized ferry boat be recovered, even if the task is very difficult and even if the cost is exorbitant. The Government, given the overwhelming national sentiments for the recovery of the ferryboat, has advertised for experts to submit proposals. This is what the families want; this is what the majority of Guyanese want. Even though the experts might have advised that the task is very difficult and may not be possible, the Government believes it must satisfy the national need for an earnest effort to recover the boat. The Government believes that it is imperative that the nation know that everything possible is being done.
The political Opposition and a few misguided persons have twisted the Government’s action to seek professional and expert help to recover the boat as a victory for the Opposition. Instead, Ruminations commends President Ali and the Government. It demonstrates that the Government is one that listens. In any case, the Government had never decided against recovering the boat. From the beginning the Prime Minister had said that, in spite of the experts’ determination that the recovery of the boat will be difficult, the Government will consult with the families, and the Government will follow the advice of the affected families. The Government has kept its promise.
While President Ali and the Government have been working every single day, every single moment, to ensure everything possible is done to support the families, the Opposition has been engaged in drama and theatrics. Walking out of Parliament, protesting, and utilising drama in Parliament are not unusual, and every political party has engaged in such theatrics. But a responsible Opposition cannot ask for answers and then ignore their opportunity to get the answers they want. Last week, while they were abusing their privilege in Parliament, the Speaker called on the leaders of the Opposition parties in Parliament to make statements relating to the MV Barima. They refused the opportunity while they were in the House, loudly trying to prevent the Government’s business. They sent in written questions for oral answers; the Speaker called on them to ask the questions. They refused to seize the opportunity.
The Opposition have called for the Minister of Infrastructure and the Minister of Utilities to resign. They have begun to conduct protests in front of the homes of the two Ministers. It is their democratic right to protest and to demand the resignation of the Ministers. But there is an opportunity for them to litigate this matter. The President has appointed a Commission of Inquiry (CoI). The members of the CoI have been appointed and have been sworn in. Work has already started. The CoI has wide scope to determine accountability. This is the opportunity for the Opposition to work with the Commission to ensure full accountability and, as the President has openly stated and as the TOR of the CoI have indicated, “let the chips fall where they will.”
They have tried to use the action of the Police and the DPP to charge three officers who were in charge of the boat and its loading as evidence that the Government is trying to create scapegoats. The truth is that the Police and the DPP have their own roles whenever any tragedy occurs in Guyana or elsewhere. The Police determined they have enough evidence, and the DPP agreed that the three officers have some culpability. The court will determine that. This has nothing to do with President Ali. Should a President interfere with the Police doing their work?
President Ali has constitutional responsibilities for appointing CoIs in cases where there is an event of national significance. There is no doubt that the MV Barima tragedy is a national catastrophe. In keeping with this responsibility, President Ali has appointed a CoI to seek answers. The CoI is tasked with wider scope than the Police. The CoI’s TORs give it further scope to look into matters that might be beyond the scope of the Police. The two pathways are not in conflict. In fact, together they can ensure those who are culpable get to account for their behaviour and that we minimise any possibility that such a tragedy could ever happen again in Guyana.
President Ali has also ensured that Guyanese experts review the overall maritime safety mechanisms in place and recommend changes to strengthen the system. He has also ensured a mechanism is in place to provide support for the family, both short-term and long-term. There is no political gamesmanship in the actions of the Government; it is doing what needs to be done. The Opposition has decided that they are the beneficiaries of the tragedy; they have decided to exploit peoples’ misfortune to gain political relevance and support. This is unacceptable. We reject this posture.