Let us have a public debate on inclusive governance

Jun 27, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
We note with characteristic gusto, Prem Misir’s recent argument that we do not live in dictatorship. Most of his arguments are spurious and superficial. Let us look at one issue he mentioned in his letter.
He talks glibly of Local Government Reform among many matters which he alleges are indicators of an ‘inclusive government.’ For now let us ignore the other issues in his letter.
Local Government Reform has become a sham and a shibboleth. It is clear that the Local Government Task Force was deliberately aborted by the PPP because they have no real belief in the concept of inclusive governance, or shared anything. Rather, they seem well set on the road to hegemony.
They now say they are referring all residual matters to Parliament, but that is where they have a secure majority. That simply means, it is not what the opposition or even what the citizens think, or need, but what the PPP majority wants.
It is clear what the government wants, is similar to what the Old Imperial Overlords did – dictate and decide what must happen.

In the case of Georgetown, starve you of funds and when things become overbearing, with the appropriate publicity and propaganda machine in place, come to the rescue.
I earlier printed this picture, ‘tie a man’s hand, then throw him into the deep waters, when he comes up for a second gulp of air, with cameras at the ready, life boats and their cheering sycophants, you rescue him. Headline – “Government again rescues etc,” then wait for the next command performance.’
Mr. Misir had the temerity to talk about information, while after all these years of a ‘Return to Democracy’, we still only have a single radio station, Government-controlled. Also, a well-staffed NCN and Chronicle, which never publishes any article that is even halfway critical of the Government. Don’t expect this letter to be published by the Chronicle.
Imagine he talks about allocation of State lands. Could Mr. Misir be kind enough to give us a breakdown of State lands which have been allocated from 1992? To whom, and how many acres, not forgetting Roger Khan’s concession.

To answer Misir’s absurd glibness will take volumes; instead I hereby publicly challenge him separately, or with a team, to a public debate on this question of inclusive government.
A condition of such a debate must be for the Government-controlled media (NCN TV & Radio and Chronicle) to publish the entire proceeding unedited, and if in the interest of time, or space, such editing must be a signed agreement by the contracting parties.
Let us have a team of four or five on each side, or a one-on-one, with adequate notice given to all concerned, and let us in true democratic fashion allocate equal time to the opponents and have this open public debate on shared governance.
Lest we forget Mr. Misir, why in spite of promises, no freedom of information legislation?
Hamilton Green, J.P., Mayor

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