A new level of ‘barefacedness’ in local politics

May 21, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
It makes for quite interesting politics; when men, who for decades, were alien to the local politics have decided that its time they wave their magic wand and become leader of PNCR.
Looks like this is the new level of ‘barefaceness’ that has come to occupy local politics where men are targeting the PNCR as the conduit or backdoor to realise high political office, one just have to examine the intricacies of their uttering’s.

What is disgraceful in this whole moment of “fight fuh leader ah PNC” is that the contenders appears to be making their various public advances at a time when the incumbent Robert Corbin, is recuperating from recent illness. Men seem so vicious and ambitious for the position that they throw basic morality, decency and common ethics through the back door, as none took time, in their many interviews and statements, to even wish the incumbent a quick recovery.

The mission for them seems to be one which says “let’s make the best out of Corbin’s absence from active duty”. In sports they refer to these unsympathetic, proud, and seemingly selfish traits as unsportsmanlike, in politics they might as well call it “political insensitivity of power mongers”.
But the problem with this stance is that the people become the judge and the actors pay dearly, decent human beings despise these inhumane tactics.

So party members, the people who will vote to elect their leader are likely to retaliate through the ballot. Van West Charles, in particular, must take note.
I heard about Van West Charles’ interest in becoming leader of PNCR but never in my wildest dream, did I thought this to be true, until I began to read his various statements in the local printed media. I believe strongly in democracy and agree that anyone should be able to contest for leadership of the PNCR, but what I reject is an attempt to recycle “political misfits”.
Richard Van West Charles has served in the Burnham administration as Minister of Health his track record in that office remains a mystery or at best a misnomer.

It is out of sync with common sense and progress that the membership of the party, elect this man to lead them. Can Van West Charles identify a single national project; or health policy he initiated and which positively impacted the lives of citizen? Further, what has he done to improve the lot of PNC after that party lost elections in 1992.
It is unacceptable for these men to decide that they can promote themselves for leadership without accounting for their past stewardship. It is the same kind of accountability that he, Van West Charles, is now calling for. All this seems like good talk now; so let us judge you by your track record as Minister or past executive of PNC.

On his bid to lead PNCR Van West Charles claims to be a long standing member of the PNC party, and that he has maintained his membership despite he is residing outside of Guyana for more than two decades. For a man who says he wants to restructure and bring change to an organisation, this is certainly not the way to do it, that is, by making statements that can be easily verified as a statement of dishonesty.
Van West Charles only renewed his membership in the PNCR shortly before the last party congress in 2007.

In fact the avenue by which he came to attain membership should have been rejected by the party, but leave this for another time. The point is Van West Charles is not straight with the public on many issues his comments in the press need to be carefully scrutinized. I call on the General Secretary of the party, Mr. Oscar Clarke to respond to Richard Van West Charles’ claim that he has always maintained membership with the party. Is he telling the truth, party members need to know. This PNC former Minister of Health seems to have a lot of ideas as to what can be done to improve the PNCR and make the party more effective, I wonder how many of these ideas were shared with the current leadership by this “member” who supposedly have great interest in the party.

I have noted that Van West Charles in many of his public utterings stated that party electoral process needs to be overhauled, I suspect this will be the line used to cry fowl when the incumbent defeats him.
It is a pity Mr. Van West Charles believes that he cannot contribute to the development of the PNCR as a member, only as the leader, I wish him well, and like he said the will of the people must prevail at the congress, I can assure him it will.
I hope at the end of it all he renews his membership and not wait for the next congress to do so.
Alden Seargeant