Latest update October 1st, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 15, 2009 Letters
Dear Editor,
I wish to address some points in Eric Phillips letter “It’s a moral imperative that these two imbalances be addressed”, published in Kaieteur News of Sunday, September 13/2009.
There is no impediment and has never been since 1992, for either the PNCR or any other party to seek to obtain the votes of any electors, including Amerindians and Indians. People are free to cast their ballots as they see fit.
What is noticeable and cannot be disputed is that when the AFC came on the scene, the PNCR lost a number of seats to them, while the PPP/C gained. This gives a clear picture of voters’ wishes.
In democratic elections, there are usually winners and losers, and the winners form the government. This is the normal occurrence. It is important for there to be also a strong opposition, as strong as possible to articulate its views in Parliament and to the public, and both sides receive full coverage through the electronic and print media. Government programmes and policies also receive coverage, apart from the ruling party.
There is no longer the PNC doctrine of paramountcy of the party under which the security forces, public servants, other agencies and even the private sector pledged loyalty to the PNC, over and above the state. No party flag flies at the Court of Appeal as happened under the PNC regime.
There is no entity now such as the Office of the General Secretary of the ruling party and the Ministry of National Development which was allocated state funds for which they did not have to account.
Eric Phillips says, “The sad reality is that the vast majority of PPP supporters will not allow themselves to vote for any other party.” This seems to indicate to me and other readers his desire to cast their ballots for them as the PNC did during their tenure of rigged elections.
Electors have a right to vote for the party of their choice and to have their votes counted at the place of poll. The PPP/C Jagdeo government is not a ‘rogue’ government. The only such government we ever had was the PNC dictatorial and authoritarian regime.
Desmond Hoyte did not voluntarily reform. US President Jimmy Carter had to twist his arm and he was also pressured by his Caribbean colleague Heads of State at Mustique.
The Amerindians are a respected and intelligent part of our nation. They are not mendicants, and have moral integrity and will vote according to their conscience which they do have, and on principle. They do not “sell their human dignity to the highest bidders.”
In respect of the three individuals in the Roger Khan saga, two are awaiting sentencing, while the third, with a police record in Guyana, gave evidence for the US government and has obtained visas for himself and family.
President Jagdeo has said that he is not interested in a third term, which he can easily win by a landslide. He himself signed into law the limit of two terms. It was a clear understanding between the PPP and the Civic that the Office of Prime Minister will always go to the Civic and the Presidency to the party.
Eric Phillips, the Army is not in disarray, the Guyana Police Force is not in disarray. Anarchy does not reign.
All Guyanese have benefited and continue to benefit from aid and other assistance from India, and as the scholarships will show of Guyanese studying there.
Afro-Guyanese have done very well under the PPP/Civic government, so much so, that they are noticeably now more subject to robberies than before, and losses are tallied in millions, plus if they suffer from a fire, their belongings are valued at millions, in addition to the more positive indicators, such as lifestyles and apparently more disposable income.
If you can’t win by the rules, Eric, don’t try to move the goalposts again. Work harder, go out into the fields, don’t sit in your armchair and write letters.
John Da Silva
October 1st turn off your lights to bring about a change!
Oct 01, 2024
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