Political analyst: THA deadlock mediation long overdue

Political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath fully supports the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP’s) proposal to have independent mediators at the power-sharing negotiations with the PNM.

Negotiations broke down on Wednesday as the parties met face to face at the Assembly Legislature, Scarborough. They butted heads over almost everything, including how many members of each party were allowed at the negotiation table.

Ragoonath said, “From a purely political-science point of view, this negotiation should never have taken place with just the leaders of the PNM and the PDP. They should have had other people in the negotiations.

“The reason for that simply is that if the negotiation hits a low block, it is only then can they go back to the leaders to get direction.”

Ragoonath added: “So,- my suggestion to them is that what they are now proposing to do is what they should have done at the beginning.

“Notwithstanding that they are now proposing it, my proposal is that this is the way to go.”