We are convinced that good governance is absent from Guyana and must be established

Aug 02, 2009 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

---

Extracts of the Feature Address made by Leader of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, M.P. at the 2nd Delegates’ Convention – July 24, 2009

Today, the political outlook appears grim. We continue to slide and to fall away from the democratic gains made. One only has to look at the newspapers to witness the countless cases of domestic violence, or at the latest victim of “roughing up” by the security forces to know that the society is hurting and in pain and is in need of special care and attention.
The trade union movement has been forced into decline and finds itself having to grovel for recognition and the right to represent the interests of the workers. The National Assembly is fast losing the little credibility that was built up, as citizens can now witness firsthand the madness that is unfolding in this “august” assembly. It is becoming, not truly representative, but truly self-serving to do the government’s bidding only.

GOVERNANCE
Where does the AFC stand on governance? We are convinced that good governance is absent from Guyana and must be established. We therefore stand on the side of the Constitution of Guyana: Article 13 states:
“The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of the citizens and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being:”

I have recently been criticized for calling for a dialogue on inclusive governance. With the greatest of respect I say that it appears that the Soviet upbringing and orientation of many has made it difficult, and more likely than not, impossible, for them to appreciate and understand the basic principles, and tenets, and even the subtleties and nuances of democracy and good governance.
So when we repeat the words of the Guyana Constitution and say we want to establish an inclusive democracy, and that we should all sit and have a dialogue amongst ourselves and with the people on governance on what it means to be “Inclusive”, we wish only to give expression to the Constitution of Guyana and the wishes of the people.

POLITICAL PERSECUTION
Of recent, the leadership of the AFC has been targeted in a programme of subterfuge and character assassination by allegations of “pepper sauce” duty-free scams, and the latest, the burning of the Ministry of Health.
• The AFC knows that the people of Guyana will not believe these blatant lies and realise that the more that the AFC applies the pressure is the more that the lies are spewed.
Unfortunately, this is the sad state of Guyana’s politics. It gets dirty and dangerous at times and we are prepared for that, but will not engage at the low depths that others have sunk to protect their paper castles. Suffice to say that our God is a good God and we answer to him and he watches over us and reminds us that he will be our shield and buckler in time of battle and shall give his angels charge over us to keep us safe from harm.

From what we have been reliably informed we are about to face a wave of filth and dirt, and lies and innuendos, but this wave, as all waves, do, will pass and we will be standing and ready to begin the clean-up. I ask our members, supporters, and the citizens of Guyana to do as I did and overcome the fear. Nelson Mandela when asked about fear said “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
I, as Leader of the Alliance For Change, offer the solemn assurance that the leadership of this Party will not abandon you and run for cover when faced with adversity; we will not allow ourselves to be comprised by dirty money, and neither will we wilt or wobble under pressure. We recognise and accept the responsibility given to us by you to work, alongside others, towards the restoration of Guyana and the establishment of a just, stable, and peaceful state. And we accept the sacred trust that you have reposed in us to lead, and we will do so with humility, and with courage, and with purpose. We are moving – from third force to first choice.

AFC IN PREPARATION
As a political Party our objective is to be in a position to influence and promote change by being in Government. To be able to do so we must become more efficient, more vibrant, capable and transformational. With this in mind, the Party’s structure will rest on its main four pillars and each will have their supporting beams and membranes. These pillars are:

• Building of strategic alliances and partnerships
The AFC recognises that it cannot go it alone. To hold a contrary opinion is not only egotistic, but also futile, in addition to being reckless. We must as a matter of necessity, enter into strategic alliances and partnerships with individuals and groups from both the body politic, and civil society. There is no other way but this way.

• Maximising the Diaspora involvement and optimizing its resource base
If we accept the statistics that over 85% of Guyana’s skilled citizens now reside in a developed country then we must also, by necessity, accept that the 15% of us still here cannot hope to develop the country without the direct involvement of the Diaspora. We can’t only ask for your money at election time, we must also accept your full and unfettered participation in the decision-making processes. In fact, I make bold to say that without the Diaspora, the AFC would not be where it is today.

• Organisation and Discipline
I will not pretend that managing a political party in a plural society compounded by a weak economy, and an autocratic government is easy. It has been anything but easy. However, the fact that we have been able to ensure the holding of this second Convention, within the constitutionally mandated time, is evidence enough that while we still have some growing to do, we are not crawling and creeping. We may not yet be like Usain Bolt, but soon will be.

• Message and Communication
It may be all well and good to have a strong and organized party but our message must be consistent, easily understood, and proficiently delivered if we are to be effective. Our core values and principles remain the same, but our methodology for transmitting it in an easily recognizable and acceptable manner is our challenge. A challenge which we have begun to meet and the results are exciting.

What is the AFC’s ideology…leftist, rightist, left of centre? Ours is the people’s ideology. People want to be housed, clothed and fed – to be happy and to feel secure and to be involved in the decision-making processes; from community to parliament. That is the ideology that we share. Ours is the task to provide the healthy atmosphere, and the vehicle for change, that will enable this country to be at peace with itself so that it can move from being a place of potential to a place of plenty.
We remain a party that embraces the notion that the private sector is the engine of growth and that government should facilitate and not dictate. We are passionate about the respect for the rule of law such that in this country people are not tortured and have their rights trampled upon, and worst of all, that there is no answer or redress from the Courts. We will ensure that people will not wait in vain for justice and that the orders of court will be respected as we ourselves have twice been the victims of a terminally ill judicial system.

We propose that the National Assembly be re-aligned into being the preeminent institution of decision-making, after there has been devolution of power from the top to the bottom of the governance structures. There has to be constitutional change and we still have an opportunity to fix it; if not, the people will do so for us. I strongly believe that in trying to be politically correct and appropriate we have eschewed the need to express and celebrate our various faiths and to gird ourselves around them. That time must pass.
I conclude by saying that it is important that we ground ourselves firmly and faithfully in the hands of the Almighty. And so I end with a special prayer to God, and ask that each of you, in your own private ways, and to whomsoever you pray, regardless of where you find spiritual nurture and inspiration, pray for the coverage and protection of this Party as we journey along this part of the road we are about to travel for change.

---

---