Our Presidents and Politicians must chase after their passion, not after their pension

May 03, 2009 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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By Khemraj Ramjattan
It has been some time now that President Jagdeo has been taking a walloping from the media, the Opposition, and even his bretheren from the Caribbean. This torrid period has seen him having to sign on to the EPA when his initial stance was that he would not. It has seen him being the greatest defender of DuPrey’s CLICO when this entire empire has collapsed. It has seen him covering vast distances in the Middle East yet with his begging bowl, after all that effort, being empty at the end of it.

Indeed His Excellency’s stewardship in many a matter since the beginning of the year – ranging from issues financial to law and order, and even his appointment of Mc Koy to the Child Commission – has been taking a serious battering. It reached its zenith when the AFC’s advertisement in the Express of T&T in the middle of the Summit of Americas rocked him. He obviously became depressed. And this was showing quite distinctly.

His anti-bourgeousie, pro-working class PPP/C’s senior leadership had to come to his assistance. They had to find a quick prescription for this depression. It came up with Bill No. 12 of 2009, Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill. It has been reported that he has been all smiles since the passing of this Bill in the Assembly. The depression is no more. And we must expect a lightning-paced Presidential Assent and gazetting so that it becomes law.

This Bill is reflective of a massive departure from what we used to be taught in the PPP under the Jagans. And what were these values and standards? Service without self-aggrandizement; struggle even if it comes at no or little remuneration; give of your self, even if it means the ultimate sacrifice, for the working people. These are the traits of true revolutionaries and moral leadership both Jagans use to inculcate in their cadres.
To a large extent, both Jagans lived these ideals. They were never greedy for material things. They detested extravagance, and chastised spending on meretricious ornamentations. Not so with their lieutenants they have left in charge, it seems!

I wonder what Cde. Cheddi or Janet would have said if such a Bill No. 12 had come their way. I believe that Cde. Janet would have given it her patented over-the- shoulder treatment like she did with the Summons and Court order.
Cde Cheddi would have shouted – “Is wha wrong with you people? You can’t find anything less idle to propose? Come here Donald. Whose idea was this?” I could see Donald meekly whispering; “Is Cde. Bharrat idea. And I told him it was not a good idea, but he would not listen!”

It is significant that last Thursday in the Assembly not a single PPP leader/member spoke in support of the Bill. They were all ashamed of having their utterances recorded for Hansard. Instead they allowed Odinga, Manzoor, Ashni, and PM Sam Hinds, a beneficiary himself, to toe the line. But when the Division was called, they were all forced to say yes to the Bill. Their hypocrisy will have to be rationalized by some other dialectic which they will discover in the future.

It is obvious that the Bill is all the more unacceptable because of its untimely presentation. Firstly, Guyanese are all feeling the financial squeeze. Yet our Chief Citizen wants an open-ended set of facilities and benefits, to be made enjoyable two years hitherto – upon him demitting office in 2011.
Secondly, Janet Jagan’s ashes have not as yet turned cold and yet the PPP/C Government now wants to freeze into law and time in futuro benefits and facilities for His Excellency.
The untimeliness is abhorrent for a third reason. It comes so immediately after His Excellency’s explicit statement for the very first time in Trinidad that he would not seek a third term as President.
What I discern from all of this is that the leaders of the PPP have ceased chasing after their passion; they now chase after their pension. And this has given a new meaning to the abbreviation PPP. It now stands for Perks, Privileges and Power.

Just for the information of those who are unaware of these ex-presidential benefits and facilities, (especially the sugar workers who asked for 14% increase and did not get it, and farmers who asked for a reduction of the VAT and did not get it), they include until death the payment by the State for the following:
A) all water, telephone, and electricity bills;
B) services of personal and household staff, including an attendant and a gardener;
C) services of clerical and technical staff;
D) all medical expenses incurred for himself and dependants;
E) full-time personal security services, and for his residence;
F) motor vehicles owned and maintained by the State;
G) toll-free transportation;
H) value of two first class return airfares to England every year as a vacation allowance;
I) tax–free salary which in 2011 will be approximately $1m per month.

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