Hold referendum and suspend UNC

Replacing this “yellow peril” with a group of trusted, competent and respected individuals drawn from each of the Opposition constituencies, the interim Parliament will then discuss and pass the FACTA Bill with dispatch, fully aware of the dangers inherent in our protracted inaction on this vital matter.

During this short period, we can also appoint a Commissioner of Police and handle other legislation which, we know, the UNC Opposition will block in the near future.

Let’s face it, instead of rushing forward to help ensure our country remains stable in these challenging times, this chronically ill-intentioned Opposition is using FACTA as an opportunity to work its plan to scuttle the national ship of state.

In a post-national Budget situation where further expenditure- cutting measures are expected to bring increased pressure on the citizenry, the UNC hopes to gleefully employ FACTA as a tool to worsen the situation and set the people on a rampage against the Government.

This is not a show of love of country and genuine caring for the well-being of the people, as one would reasonably expect of a responsible and patriotic Opposition in these tenuous economic times.

Rather, it points to the employment of yet another facet of a behaviour pattern by the same group which — as custodians of the previous government in power — recklessly engaged in decisions which contributed to bringing our country to the brink of economic disaster, as part of its plan to look good at any cost for the general election of September 7, 2015.

Consider Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s Mt D’Or public meeting on September 13 at which he presented a long list of obstructionist and flip-flop moves by the UNC (both while in control of government and in Opposition) on crucial issues such as the Caribbean Court of Justice and the appointment of a Police Commissioner.

Against this background, the Opposition’s real mission in Parliament should become transparent to all citizens on both sides of the voting aisle, at all angles of the ethnic mix, at all levels of the economic/ class structure.

As citizens committed to the peace, stability and prosperity of our country, we have a duty to stave off any attempt by negative, destructive forces to disrupt, sabotage and undermine the Government and the peaceful environment of our country as, I humbly submit, is now being done by the Opposition with FACTA.

This is not a time for smiling, polite back-stabbing of our nation but rather a time to put our best foot forward to meet and overcome challenges. Let’s look at it as an opportunity to bring out our best selves as we compassionately hold a national referendum to temporarily suspend our sadly misguided Opposition from Parliament so that we can proceed with our work of love for our nation.

In this regard, I feel confident we will have the support of our President who now seems eager to play an active role in making sure our country remains secure.

RUDOLPH WILLIAMS St James, PoS