A cry for national reconciliation

Jul 08, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
One of the meanings of the word “reconcile,” according to the Mirriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, is “to restore friendship or harmony.” Hence, the abstract noun “reconciliation” means “a restoration to friendship and harmony.”
Reading Freddie Kissoon’s article last Sunday, I support him in his analysis for Moses Nagamootoo’s heading a national coalition as presidential candidate. If Guyana can see the merit in such a choice, this can open the floodgates for a national reconciliation.
I know Moses as I know the other PPP stalwarts such as Navin Chandrapal, Khemraj Ramjattan (when he was in the PPP), Ralph Ramkarran, Moonsammy, Baney Karran, and Komal Chand – all brilliant, fair, principled, and decent people. Moses, apart from academic, professional and literary endowments, has acumen and a charm to circumvent, solve or heal political, ethnic, and religious controversies and crises.
He has capabilities to lead a nation to the best of human fulfillment. Gifted with a nationalist heart, a sense of society, a love for people, empathy with the poor and powerless, and knowledge and experience of Guyana’s political, social and economic travails, he will undoubtedly take Guyana to the splendour, civility and abundance every Guyanese dreams of. In short, he has the will, energy and vision to make our country another Singapore in the western hemisphere.
For Guyana to make springing leaps to social and economic summits, a national coalition must include progressive, talented and qualified people from the PPP and PNC. Knowing the commitment, patriotism and integrity of Ramjattan and Raphael Trotman, I am sure that these two political fighters will understand that national restoration precedes personal ambition; therefore, without a murmur of dissent, they will make way, I am confident, for a strategic presidential candidate and accept selflessly responsible, leading and vital positions in the higher reaches of the ministerial pyramid.
Moreover, the coalition must seriously take into consideration political, ethnic, ideological and religious sensitivities, yet selecting people who are adept and expedient for administrative and ambassadorial engagements. It must include academics like Doctors Clive Thomas, David Hinds, Janet Bulkan, Kampta Karran, and David Dabydeen. To assuage political and ethnic apprehensions, the ministerial and advisory roundtable must accommodate experienced and qualified people like Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, Dr. Elvin McDavid, Ravi Dev, Winston Murray, Sheila Holder, Ralph Ramkarran, Aubrey Norton, Dr. Henry Jeffrey, Navin Chandrapal, Lincoln Lewis, Baney Karran, Andaiye and Komal Chand.
In the Diaspora, we have scores of people who can make a contribution. Two of them are Doctors Ivelaw Griffith and Gary Girdhari; the former is the provost of York College, New York, the latter a resigned professor of the University of Guyana. I am wondering why no one has ever mentioned Dr. Alissa Trotz, one of the brightest women of the Caribbean.
A professor at the University of Toronto, she is a scintillating and leading academic in women’s studies. As a writer, her lucid, coherent, graceful, and passionate writing in the SN talks of her accomplishments.
Dr. Nigel Westmaas, also, from his political inheritance, academic achievements, and genial personality, can add to the mosaic of the national coalition. As for business and finance, we have qualified, experienced and serious people like Yesu Persaud and Christopher Ram.
Qualified women in and out of Guyana should be encouraged and included. I haven’t mentioned them here because I don’t know their correct names.
I do not agree that Dr. Joey Jagan is a man of oddities. The son of President Cheddi Jagan, one of the luminaries of the western hemisphere, he is a gold mine of leadership qualities. His writings in the letter columns corroborate that he is gifted with a sane and brilliant political vision. No funny or trivial man can achieve the heights of doctor in dentistry with such distinction. Thus, as Freddie suggested, he should be a priority in the national coalition.
In conclusion, I thank and applaud Freddie for his magnanimous and exalting article, his best so far. In it I can hear a cry for a national reconciliation.
Churaumanie Bissundyal

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