The Unity Party is committed to working with all parties toward a common goal to benefit all Guyanese where each voice is considered and no group is left behind. Most economists agree the PPP's authoritarian and centralized style of government is mostly responsible for Guyana's declining economic, education, health, social welfare and crime situation.

UNITY PARTY'S CONCEPT ON COALITION

The concept of coalition politics is summed up thus: a temporary alliance (hopefully becoming permanent as trust is built) of distinct parties, persons, or states for joint action. Coalition politics is as old as written history itself and as mankind has evolved politically there have been periods in our history where coalition structures have been dominant, depending on a particular epoch in history. For example, Napoleon Bonaparte in the beginning of the 19th century and under France's rule, devised a coalition of states in central Europe; for example, after the American Revolution and with the beginning of President Washington’s government, a coalition approach was used by General Washington to keep Jefferson and Hamilton (who opposed each other on most issues affecting early America) in his cabinet but functioning to make everything work; for example, during World War II there was a coalition of Allied States to defeat fascist Germany.

There are those in Guyana (the present PPP leadership which we in Unity Party call the “gang of 8”) who decry coalition politics as useless and unworkable, but the record shows a different story if we look at the situation worldwide. Since World War II, the Italians have had numerous coalition governments while their economy has advanced; in Ghana there has been successful coalition arrangements which has made Ghana a better place to live after years of intercine party conflict; Nelson Mandela of South Africa made sure that the coalition process came alive in South Africa; in Mauritius there is a coalition government and coalition opposition and this has brought political stability and prosperity to that nation; in Surinam, our next door neighbour, coalition politics is working and alive and continue to invigorate an economy that had been degraded by civil war and social unrest; in India, Canada, England, and many other countries, coalition political partnerships result in a better political climate while stimulating economic and social justice.

Since his resignation from parliament and the PPP in 1998, Cheddi (Joey) Jagan has been pushing for a coalition approach to solving the political chasms which face our country. Unity party is dedicated and committed to coalition government, but most importantly, we are committed to a coalition effort BEFORE the next general elections to try to align all political parties, civic institutions, unions, and individuals under a Unity Party banner dedicated to the removal, at the polls, of Mr. Jagdeo’s unimaginative and unyielding regime which is leading this country to civil unrest, more unemployment, and a barren future for our youth.

As you go through our library, you will see that Mr. Jagdeo had many opportunities through the dialogue process to bring a workable coalition to the fore of Guyana’s politics. He has failed even knowing that President Cheddi was always committed to coalition politics as far back as 1953 when coalition was alive and well. As late as 1990 to 1992, President Cheddi was still thinking coalition with the PCD (Patriotic Coalition for Democracy) as a workable solution for the 1992 elections, but things fell apart because of unprincipled positions taken by others.

The very foundation of Unity Party is the coalition process without which Guyana will be stuck in the morass of traditional party hegemony which, with the passing of distinct and charismatic leaders (Jagan, Burnham, and Rodney) has become more acute as the flexibility that these leaders provided has disappeared. The ruling party in Guyana, the PPP, under Mr. Jagdeo and the Gang of 8 has a political agenda leading up to the next election, of divide and rule, hoping that a coalition of forces for better governance does not materialize. We in UP are convinced that a coalition process is vitally important to conceive of before the next general elections and through this exciting and fortifying process we can achieve in Guyana a harmonious and formidable coalition government dedicated to social justice and equitable distribution of the wealth which we can create by working together.

The coalition process is not an easy road to traverse and in order to have success we all must be prepared to surrender egos, ambitiousness, dogmatic positions all to the common good of unity, strength of purpose and dedication to Guyana’s future wellbeing. Guyana needs coalition politics in order to settle and constrain the old race-based, narrow and confrontational politics which exists to this day because the inclusive nature of coalitions brings a representation which is diverse but democratic, strong but stable, and credible but close-knit.

We in Unity Party, though committed to coalition politics, are also convinced that to make this concept work, there has to be a strong leader who is fair, even-handed, and inspirational to all the integral parts of this united front. Of course, the leader of a coalition front must be democratically elected by all parties and individuals involved but he/she, once elected, must be supported by everyone if success is to be achieved.

Coalition politics is the only answer for Guyana because as a tool for the removal of the Jagdeo regime, it will germinate into a new kind of government for Guyana – a coalition government. If we can achieve this type of government then political debate (parliamentary, press and street corner) will change as time passes to become more issue-oriented and not race-based as the opposition will also be forced to create a coalition opposition. This could result in more fluidity in our political processes as we might find partners in each coalition crossing the floor to vote on certain crucial issues facing our country. This fluidity can be seen, for example, in Italy or Israel where there have been real shifts resulting in government collapse and reconstitution with new partners overnight; however, even with these political shifts and fluidity the economic agenda has evolved successfully as can be seen in the Italian experience.

Let us close by reminding the reader of a letter Dr. Jagan sent Mr. Burnham on June 6, 1964 in which he stated:
“Dear Mr. Burnham, you would be aware that it has been my wish since the split of the People’s Progressive Party in 1955, that a merger or a COALITION of the two parties representing the majority of working people should take place”.
Forty years later, we in Unity Party are resurrecting this great coalition concept for Victory ’06 in order to make Guyana a better place for all of us and in particular, for our youth and future generations.