A small voting swing could result in a change

Jul 26, 2010 Letters

---

Dear Editor,

Prof. Bishnodat Persaud, formerly Director and Head of Economic Affairs Division of the British Commonwealth Secretariat in a published letter in SN (January 2003) wrote:

“It is interesting to consider whether, if he [former president Desmond Hoyte] had redirected reform to his party and developed it as a genuine multiracial and responsible force, he would not have resumed the presidency [in 2001]”.

On the effect of the swing vote and the capacity of the Guyanese people to vote their self-interests, Prof. Bishnodat Persaud wrote: “It continues to be the case that a small voting swing could result in a change, but those who believe in the myth of a permanent ethnic majority are only reacting in ways which confirm the myth. Large numbers may persist in voting racially but we should not underestimate the Guyanese people and motives such as interest, nationalism, and integrity”.

In my letters published in the independent press, I have always stressed two things: (1) The need for the ethnic parties – Indo-ethnic PPP, Afro-ethnic PNC – to begin the process of transforming themselves into genuine multiracial parties; (2) Such transformations will undoubtedly encourage a small swing of the racial vote of as little as 5 percent, just sufficient to produce a change of government.

Letters advocating “shared governance” filling up the letter columns daily are such a waste of time. It’s a bad idea and should have been debunked years ago. It is the antithesis of democracy.

Yes, indeed we do have a flawed democracy now; that does not mean we should adopt “shared governance” which would permanently foreclose any possibility of developing genuine democracy. Shared governance also mocks at the citizens’ ability and capacity to vote their self-interests.

No party in democratic societies can govern satisfactorily and win the allegiance of the majority forever. The record has shown that the pendulum of power always turns to an alternative party or coalition of parties every two or three election cycles. If the ruling Indo-ethnic PPP has bucked that trend (1992, 1997, 2001, 2006), it is simply because of the culture of racial voting – and the failure of the opposition PNC to reform itself.

The Indo-ethnic PPP will feel no compulsion to reform itself, as it continues to exploit the numerical advantage of the Indian racial group that accounts for 50 percent of the population.

The issues of high taxation (16% “killer” Vat Tax) and lack of law and order (unsolved crimes, burgeoning homicide rates, traumatized fear of being robbed and killed) would produce a 15-25 percent vote swing in any normal democratic societies, but not in Guyana. Why not?  Because of the fear of an unreformed Afro-ethnic PNC coming back to power. People vote their racial fears rather than the hardships imposed by bread-and-butter and crime issues.

On top of all this the most egregious or galling thing is the Jagdeo Administration’s refusal to accept help from the British Government to reform the police force. And no one knows or understands the real reason for such refusal.

Again it is instructive to quote Prof. Bishnodat: “…. Let us attempt to abandon racial myopia, and false consciousness. We owe this to the many Guyanese, who are in deep agony today. We are already becoming too callous about their suffering. The costs are severe and not just to many, but to all.”

Prof. Bishnodat’s letter dealt with several themes and should serve as an important source document for students studying the transition of Guyana’s economy from a socialist to a free market one.

It also highlighted the role of Sir Shridath Ramphal in 1987, then the Commonwealth Secretary-General in helping president Hoyte fulfill his desire to end the practice of socialist economics that had ruined the nations’s economy and made it insolvent; and the launching of the Economic Recovery Programme.

Ramphal may have helped then dictator Burnham cook the elections in 1968, but came back to help his country in its hour of need. In conjunction with all the other work he has been doing to help Caribbean nations, Ramphal’s reputation today stands fully redeemed.

Mike Persaud

*************************

The shepherd boy and the wolf syndrome

Dear Editor,

In one of his recent columns Freddie Kissoon asks, “Where does the PPP get these people from?”

In the case of Dr. Randy Persaud the short answer is – from the American University in Washington, DC where he is a tenured Professor. He took a year’s sabbatical which he could have used to accept offers to serve in Korea or Japan.  He chose, rather, to serve his country. At the end of his assignment he left the country as he entered it – without the fanfare of the less than self assured.

This evidently does not meet the approval of Mr. Kissoon who claims that he was not informed of Dr. Persaud’s duties, but just knows that Dr. Persaud left under questionable circumstances. He claims that he will inform us of the true reasons at some time in the future when he can muster the “delicacy and sensitivity” to do so. One can only hope that he will muster the professional integrity to tell the truth based on facts.

The article raises some disturbing questions about the role of a free press as well as of the premier institution of higher learning in the development and growth of the emergent democracy that is Guyana.

As regards the former, critical scrutiny of the government of the day must be protected at all cost if the transition to transparent and ethical governance, political pluralism and free markets are to be effected.

While it is true that reporters should have the freedom to practice their trade, when they publish lies, half truths, innuendoes, scurrilous and undocumented information they lose some very precious assets – credibility and trust. This result in the negation of precisely what they are trying to achieve. The government then gets away with things it should not get away because of the shepherd boy and the wolf syndrome. Kissoon’s writings epitomize this state of affairs.

He attempted to disparage the integrity of three men two of whom are long dead and not here to defend themselves. In the case of Mr. Denny he provided no information that is useful to the public so long after the man’s death. It was all malicious gossip that even our rum shop denizens would be embarrassed to be associated with. If Kissoon was trying to show that the man was a failure as Minister of Labour, then he failed miserably to do so.

Titillating tidbits about his personal life serve no useful purpose but to disparage and demean. But then, that was his intent to begin with.

The nation’s university is the training ground for the leaders of the transformation as well as the maintenance of the collective historical gains of the society. A small part of its mission should be to ensure the highest levels of quality, integrity and ethics in all its educational and research functions and to create a  climate that is forward looking and conducive to the development and growth of scholarship and research.

The role of a head of a department, which Kissoon is, should be to epitomize the ideals of the university and to create and exploit new opportunities for knowledge transfer. His daily musings show no evidence that he is even vaguely conversant with the basics of scholarship and research. He meanders mindlessly and turns research on its head by starting with a conclusion and then looks for “facts” to support his conclusion. He is never inconvenienced when “facts” do not exist, he simply makes them up.

He is yet to disclose what peer reviewed works of scholarship and research he has published. He chooses to fume childishly that Dr. Persaud has a curriculum vitae that is as long as the Essequibo River.  He did not say that there was anything dishonest in any of Dr. Persaud’s work, as indeed he cannot for good reason.

Much of Dr. Persaud’s work was peer reviewed and published in reputable industry journals.

The point is certainly lost on Kissoon but that is a necessary condition for employment in academia.

Those who are charged with the responsibility to educate and train the next generation of leaders must demonstrate the capacity and the temperament to do so.

I would not expect Kissoon to disclose a CV that is as long as the much shorter Abary Creek – one as short as a “four foot” in Hague back dam would suffice, just so long as he discloses it.

His latest foray into this arena was a one page “paper” at the recently concluded historical conference at the Carnegie Library, at which he thoroughly embarrassed himself.

Errol Arthur

**********************

The garbage situation in GT is scary

Dear Editor,

It is with great annoyance that I express my absolute repugnance at the present garbage situation in Georgetown. I cannot find any words other than filthy, insalubrious, unhygienic, and other synonymous words to describe the state of the city.

I cannot understand how people can live and dwell in such surroundings which are not even conducive for living in some parts of the city.

I travelled to Georgetown last week, and upon my arrival, I felt delirious. Apparently, I had caught the flu virus, but this seemed to be a different kind. From interactions with my friends and other residents in the community, I learned that I was not the only victim of this flu. Many people had suffered from it, and believe me; they suffered indeed, with symptoms including backaches, vomiting, loose bowels, and headaches, along with the other usual flu symptoms.

I find this situation distressful as many children cannot cope adequately with this flu. Apart from the flu I mentioned, other diseases, particularly water-borne, can be spread, such as leptospirosis, especially since the rainy season is approaching.

Since this situation does not seem to be improving, I would suggest that everyone, especially young children, to take the necessary precautions, such as taking vaccinations against these diseases.

Trishanna P. Jordan

*********************

Kamla set to make more history in Trinidad

Dear Editor,

Just two months after being chosen as T&T’s first Female Prime Minister in a historic victory, the latest NACTA poll shows the ruling UNC and Peoples Partnership (PP) Leader, Kamla Persad Bissessar, is set to make additional history on July 26 by toppling the PNM from its control of several municipal corporations it never lost in local government elections in half a century.

The poll is projecting the largest defeat of the PNM in terms of corporations and seats won giving the UNC its first victory over the PNM in local government since the party was founded in 1989.

The poll finds that because of Kamla’s popularity, the PP is steadily increasing its support and most of the enthusiasm that brought the PP into government is still holding while support for the PNM is falling. The PP leads the PNM by a whopping 28% in popular support suggesting the new ruling party will trounce the opposition in the local government elections. It may be a blow out.

The overwhelming majority of voters are dissatisfied with PNM’s representation with many PNMites indicating a desire to punish the party for its neglect of their communities and squandering of resources totaling over US $50 billion over seven years. Voters say it is better to back the party in control in the central government to have harmonious relations.

Kamla, as the Prime Minister is popularly called, has greater appeal than the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Keith Rowley beating him 65% to 33% in popular support.  Kamla fever is spreading like wild fire and Rowley and the PNM have not been successful at coming up with any political medicine to inoculate against its endemic spread.

Many supporters of the PNM are gravitating towards Kamla saying they trust Kamla more than Rowley and are confident they will get better service under her leadership.

This puts her party on the threshold of winning representation for the first time in every one of the 14 local governments and for the first time not lose any deposits in the 132 seats that are being contested. The PNM, on the other hand, will lose several deposits.

The Kamla-led Peoples Partnership Alliance is making inroads deep in PNM’s territory threatening its control of the key corporations of Diego Martin and Port of Spain and also wrest what were once safe seats in Laventille and Pt. Fortin.

Vishnu Bisram

*******************************

A call for the rebirth of national consciousness

Dear Editor,

The time has come for us as a nation to call a spade a spade. There can be no doubt that the present trajectory, path or direction, which our country is on, will lead to the destruction of this nation.

We live in a society where a very few have their bread well buttered and they pretend not to see or care about the suffering experienced by other citizens all over this land.

This travesty of inequality of opportunity will not and cannot be sustained and the night will come when none of us will have peace and will be forced to pick up the pieces.

In a land that is resource rich and populated by less than 800,000, the squalor and malaise is a searing indictment against leaders and followers.

Guyana has never recovered from the split of the Nationalist Movement in the 1950’s. We have been saddled for half a century with a political elite that uses an ethnic base to impose a partisan consciousness that is at odds with the advancement of the total society.

The call is being made now!

To every race;

To every place;

To every creed;

To act now to have a rebirth of National Consciousness;

Where the worker is paid for his work;

Where the employer receives work for his pay;

Where there is work for everyone who desires to work;

Where investors receive favourable returns on their investments;

Where there is the Rule of Law and not the law of the rulers.

Many right now exist with non of the above. This dooms day scenario can only be averted if all patriotic Guyanese from every quarter put aside their petty and not so petty differences and realise that a small window of opportunity is now here open to allow a fresh breath of air in, to clear the putrid stench of corruption, nepotism, fear, insecurity and downright stupidity.

This is a call, shared by members of  Guyana Action Party (GAP), to patriots of Guyana at home and abroad to join in a most righteous undertaking of rescuing this Nation from increasing tyranny; an openly corrupt administration; a crumbling security force; a slothful judiciary; a failing education system and a poverty stricken population.

This is our present reality but not our destiny, if we can muster the courage to confront the clear and present dangers affecting our very being. Patriots from all political parties, organisations, religious bodies and individuals are now needed and most welcome.

Everall Franklin

For Guyana Action Party

***********************************

An apology to House Speaker Mr. Ramkarran

Dear Editor,

I wish to correct myself and apologise to House Speaker, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, for saying in my letter, “Discrimination of any kind mixed with naked greed makes for a dangerous combination,” (Kaieteur News, July 25), that he listed ‘racial discrimination’ as one of three areas he will tackle should he become President.

Actually, his list reads: corruption, transparency and unity. And in a previously published letter I responded to his list by linking the obvious lack of unity to the existence of racial discrimination in government because the political culture allows for the party in government to reward ethnic-based constituents with government favours, like jobs, contracts and acquisition of state resources.

Emile Mervin

---

---