Dear Editor,

The Guyanese population cannot afford to withstand another post-election consequence given the results of our experiment with the majoritarian model of numerical democracy i.e. the winner-take-all system since 1992.

In order to ensure a lasting period of sustained stability in the political, economic and social spheres we should establish a government of national unity and reconciliation.

Given the fact that Guyana's electoral results are really a repetitive confirmation of our deep-seated, racially pola-rized political landscape, it is imperative that the country forego elections for the next 10 years, beginning 2006.

Civil society, the international community, the Guyanese diaspora and politicians should arrive at a consensus to invite United Nations (UN) political envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, who has been instrumental in establishing interim governments in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Against the background of the findings of UN Special Rapporteur on Racial Discrimination, Dodou Diene, it is clear that Mr Brahimi would most likely advocate a government of national unity to avert not only a further economic and social deterioration but the descent of the country into open racial conflict.

Without attempting to prejudice the findings, conclusions and recommendations of Mr Brahimi; please allow me to posit one option of an interim cabinet that should form the basis for preliminary discussions among local stakeholders, prior to any involvement of Mr Brahimi.

The following are the members of the proposed Cabinet:

President........... Sir Shridath Ramphal

Prime Minister.......... Dr Roger Luncheon

Vice President (Economic Planning).....Mr Bharrat Jagdeo

Vice President (Environment & Information Techno-logy)......Mr Robert Corbin

Minister of Home Affairs..............Brigadier (Ret'd) David Granger

Minister of Health......................Dr Frank Anthony

Minister of Education.............Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

Minister of Agriculture................Mr Ravindra Dev

Attorney General.......................Mr Raphael Trotman

Minister of Legal Affairs..............Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan

Minister of Labour.....................Mr. George De Peana

Minister of Local Government.......Mr Vincent Alexander

Minister of Regional Development.....Mr. Paul Hardy

Minister of Finance....................Dr Clive Thomas

Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism.....Mr Winston Murray

Minister of Amerindian Affairs...............Dr Desrey Fox

Minister of Human Services and Social Security..... Chandra Narine Sharma

Minister of Public Utilities...... Mr Joseph Tyndall

Minister of Public Works..........Mr Phillip Allsopp

Minister of Foreign Affairs......Mr. Rudolph Insanally

Minister of International Trade..... F. Hamley Case

Public Service Minister..............Dr Aubrey Armstrong

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture......Professor Joycelynne Loncke

In the absence of an elected opposition, I further propose that the following persons serve on an interim committee to serve as a 'check-and-balancing' system:

Mr Yesu Persaud

Mr David de Caires

Mr Freddie Kissoon

Dr Grantley Walrond

Mr Ovid Holder

Mr Christopher Ram

Ms Philomena Sahoye-Shury

Ms Clarissa Riehl

In conclusion, given the fact the proposed cabinet and the committee would serve for ten years, it would become necessary for the parliament to be dissolved, and the various constitutional commissions to be constituted by way of consensus.

Yours faithfully,

Lloyd A. King