Provide us with your track record, Dr. Charles

Jun 13, 2009 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
It would be useful for Dr. Van West Charles to identify the factors that led to his migration almost 20 years ago and what have led to his early retirement and his subsequent return to Guyana.
I am certain that Dr. Charles is knowledgeable of the effects of brain drain and he is therefore personally responsible for some of the challenges which we now face, as a result of the migration of our scarce skilled labour.
And yes, I have to agree with Dr. Charles when he articulated in an interview with Stabroek News dated May 8, 2009, “The world is different today; the environment is different today, and what people have to focus on is my capacity to work with a team, to work collectively and collaboratively to bring the issues of the people in focus and for us to be able to find solutions to those issues. We have to be a solution-oriented party and not a reactive party.”

This sounds like a child’s poem, Mr. Tom Narrow, who pushed his grandmother, in a wheel barrow, shouting granny for sale, in this case though it’s an old man in a different suit.
Dr. Charles added that the party that he hopes to lead will have to be able to build alliances in the interest of working towards the needs of the people.
Prior to Dr. Charles’s migration the inflation rate was lower than now, there was no Value Added Tax (VAT) which places excessive burden on Guyanese thereby further impoverishing the poor, never the disappearance of hundreds of young men, such high levels of murder/suicide, massive alleged police brutality and violations of human rights and dignity, high rates of unemployment, etc, etc, and even if these were there they were latent. So indeed, Guyana has deteriorated.

I have seen Dr. Van West Charles referred to as, “Baby Jesus” on the internet but Guyanese, and particularly the PNCR supporters, do not need a Preacher, or someone to tell them that the Party Leadership is inefficient.
Guyanese want to see Leadership being given and Party supporters would attest to the fact that the Party is solution-oriented and not reactive.
The Party protested against the implementation of VAT, marched against extra-judicial killing and got rid of Gajraj.
These are new examples of resolving issues. Thus the issues of the people have always been brought into focus and so you are not saying anything new Dr. Charles.
I would have thought that Dr. Charles would have known that the Party has a legacy of pursuing foreign policies that seek to create and maintain alliances and solidarity in concentric circles and further afield.
It is very disturbing and distasteful for Dr. Charles to suggest otherwise. I would be willing to give Dr. Charles a free lesson of Guyana’s Foreign Policy from the pre-independence era to 1992 – after that period Guyana’s foreign policy seems to be on an ad hoc basis.

It seems as though Dr. Charles has finally arisen from his slumber in foreign lands and now aspires to give leadership and represent issues that appear oblivious to him. Dr. Van West Charles should have used his good office to make representations for those victims of torture; he should have sought compensation for the families of those victims of extra-judicial killings by the Joint Services and maybe he is going to tell us his role in assisting those Guyanese in Barbados.
It is amazing that throughout the committal of these atrocities, the Doctor offered no prescription for the improvement of PNCR supporters or Guyanese as a whole, but chose to remain in hibernation in the cold.
Dr. Van West Charles should be informed that it was the PNCR Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin MP, who acted as the Major General in waging the war against the invasion and in some cases the unlawful destruction of the farms of residents of Buxton. Mr. Robert Corbin made representation at the Parliamentary level for these farmers to be compensated.

May I further remind Dr. Van West Charles that Mr. Corbin initiated and led the struggle against extra-judicial killings and other excesses of Jagdeo and the PPP administration and alerted the International Community to Government’s involvement in these excesses, the domestic and international intervention and pressure that resulted in the reduction of extra-judicial killings.
As a result of Mr. Corbin’s vigilance, extra judicial killings have reduced somewhat and Roger Khan is enjoying the luxuries of a foreign Penitentiary.
The PNCR Leader called for the establishment of an independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the CLICO (Guyana) issue, Mr. Robert Corbin, MP, petitioned CARICOM, raising such issues as Government’s control of the State Media, introduction of Broadcast Legislation, etc. Keep up the struggle Mr. Robert Corbin, you are doing well.
Dr. Van West Charles, I challenge you to tell us what you are going to do differently to hold the PPP accountable and create transparency. Mr. Robert Corbin has been tested and proven. Provide us with your track record, Dr. Charles.
Courtney Henry

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