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Get on to path of compromise

Business leaders of this country could very well have been echoing the sentiments of the wider public by calling on the President and the Government to settle their differences and end the current bout of political uncertainty. To most members of the public, another general election is simply unthinkable, and we hope this message is received loud and clear by all political leaders.

Acting on this opinion climate it is now upto the President and the Government to get on to a path of reconciliation and compromise rather than drag out their confrontation to the detriment of the country's well-being. The dire economic consequences for the country of a continued standoff between these branches of government were indicated over the past couple of days by the All Share Price Index. There was a sharp dip in stock market prices when anxiety grew among the business community of a possible general election. However, there was a rise in prices at the news getting around of a possible settlement being reached between the President and the Government.

As we have time and again said, power is the desired objective of all political parties and groups but this aim cannot be pursued in complete disregard of other vital considerations which touch on the well-being of the people and the country. In other words, the pursuit of power cannot be elevated to the position of a sacro sanct principle. Power contests need to be called off when they impinge disastrously on the national interest, as is the case with the current round of political tensions.

As the public has correctly reasoned, another general election with the attendant violence and social discord, not to speak of the vast financial resources required for such an exercise, would seriously jeopardise the country's progress on all fronts - political, economic and social.

It stands to reason that a new government should be provided a fair chance to carry out its programs and policies for the betterment of the country. Bitter confrontation between the vital organs of the State would only stymie such progress and fill to the brim the country's cup of sorrow.

We, therefore, strongly advocate compromise and reconciliation between the Government and the President. If they sit together at the negotiating table, the likelihood is great that a way could be found out of the present political standoff. It is not possible to outline a quick-fix formulistic solution to such crises. The answer has to be sought through earnest dialogue and discussion between the principal parties to the power tussle. However, these parties need to bear in mind the uncompromisable principle that the national interest should reign supreme in these reconciliation efforts.

The compelling need to get on with the current development program, unhindered and uninterrupted, could be gauged from the fact that only last year the country had registered negative economic growth. That was the cumulative result of gross economic mismanagement, misgovernance, corruption and ballooning defence expenditure. We seemed to be pulling ourselves out of this morass when political tensions erupted once again.

We are also making some headway towards resolving the ethnic conflict - although a final solution is some distance away. But the view could be endorsed that we have in hand the best opportunity so far, to bring the conflict down to containable proportions. These and more opportunities for national recovery could be seriously undermined if the conflict between the Government and the President drags on and unhappy options are forced on the people. Now as never before do we need statesmen and women and not mere politicians.

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