Time to focus on what matters to the Guyanese people

Aug 05, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Reference is made to the letter “Leadership is earned by discipline, commitment and an ability to inspire and motivate” written by Dexter Sergeant (Kaieteur News 29/7/2010).
Sergeant satisfies the agenda of the agent provocateurs with his accusation of a PNC of rigged election. In his letter he referred to the PNCR congress of 2009 as facilitating such an election, an election, Mr. Winston Murray, who challenged Mr. Robert Corbin for party leader, categorically stated that the incumbent won.
In is concession statement to the press, Mr. Murray referred to the wide margin of victory as a basis for refuting any rigging claims. Did Mr. Sergeant read this or is he now attempting to add a twist or conjure up new intention or meaning to those very clear pronouncements?
The PPP/C and those bent on labeling the PNC of rigged elections will be celebrating the views of Mr. Sergeant and those of his ilk.
I cannot recall Sergeant speaking out about the 1997 National Elections that was vitiated by the Court. Nor did I hear his views on the 2006 Elections that GECOM belatedly admitted in 2008 that the list was padded by over 100, 000 voters! He would remember that it was the PNCR who called for “No Verification No Elections” in 2006, and it was that party that made all efforts to make this possible. Sadly, we know what happened that caused the PNCR to go to the polls to ensure its parliamentary relevance and to look out for the interest of the Guyanese people. Some might argue even, against this and they may be right. The PNCR congress of 2009 has long passed, the results are conclusive, anyone who wishes to harp on false claims relating to this congress is only hoping to distract from the real issues of the day. The most important one being: how to restore good governance to Guyana by 2011, this should be the concern of every right thinking Guyanese.
I am optimistic that it will happen, and the PPP/C is aware that Guyanese will reject them, boldly, in 2011.
Sergeant wants to know what Mr. Corbin has done to lower VAT. He is reminded of the marches throughout the streets and the disunity in the parliamentary opposition that had we stayed as a united front might have seen different results. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Was Sergeant on those marches lending support and adding his voice as a citizen. Or does he take his civic duty as a citizen for granted and ignores the fact that he too has power and can speak out against the horrors inflicted on the people by the PPP/C government. Had he done that?
But, point to note, Sergeant is asking the very question that the PPP/C would want him to ask, with regard to VAT, however, the question needs to be redirected to those who have imposed that wrath of VAT on the people of this country. That question should be constructed to read this, “Recognising the unbearable burden the Value Added Tax (VAT) has place on Guyanese, what is the PPP/C government prepared to do to remove this 16% VAT burden from the people whom they claim gave them the mandate to govern in their, those very people’s, interest? That is not to say that the political
opposition must relinquish its role to represent the people. It is time that those who implement these harsh policies on the people realise how the people are suffering as a result of their uncaring action, but then again we might be dealing with an unresponsive regime, who can care less about the suffering of the people.
In his haste to vilify Mr. Corbin, it may have slipped Sergeant’s memory, that it was under Mr. Corbin’s leadership that we were able to get the Disciplined Force Commission Report, of which, was recently discussed in parliament. Yes, it was under his leadership that we saw the Gajraj Commission of Inquiry, though it did not give the society all it desired, it clearly helped the society to understand the criminal nature of this government. Yes, the “Maggie Burns Commission” was made possible under Robert Corbin and would have allowed for moving the process forward in exposing the criminality of this government.
We know of the “murder for pay” of George Bacchus, the critical witness to the process, and all the resulting developments.
Sergeant, while it is understandable that you find solace in being an agent provocateur, the 2011 elections are too crucial for the people and to this nation for you to divert attention from the real problems at hand.
Spare the people the personality gossip, they have had enough and it does not translate to any meaningful change to their lives or circumstances. Your commitment to changing the society will not be by attacking Mr. Corbin. It will be demonstrated by how much you, as an individual, can do to change the circumstances of those who you try to give the impression you care about.
To this end I suggest – if you sincerely care – you join the PNCR in getting the people who have registered to pick up their ID cards. Listen to them and talk to them about the issues that matter to them. You can also join the PNC’s frequent meet the people tours around the country. These are the things those of us who profess to care should be focusing on, remember we too are protectors of the constitution, and guardians of the state.
Those who are attempting to make Mr. Robert Corbin the source of the problem, have their own hidden selfish agenda to promote, and one that the PPP/C is willingly facilitating. Voters should ask them, though, what have they done for them.
Of course, Mr. Corbin has responsibilities as Leader of the Opposition and PNCR Party but we, each, have our civic duty as well. Sergeant should also ask those whose self interests he promotes to show him their Report Card. Ask them for proof of how they have earned their Leadership stripe was it: “by commitment and an ability to inspire and motivate”?
Elections are due next year. People want change. People want to see an end to: corruption, victimization, fear, economic hardship, joblessness, discrimination, and all the other realities of bad governance we are experiencing in Guyana. People want opportunities to realise their ambition, as the Late Hugh Desmond Hoyte would have said young people want “to see the horizon”.
Being, deliberately stuck in a PNCR congress mode, and displaying an obsession with the office of Leader of the Opposition and Leader of PNCR, will only satisfy the urges of those who wish to retard any positive move to bring about meaningful change.
Those urges that are intended to benefit those who wish to keep us in a new kind of shackle. This election is about you, the voters. It is yours to decide if you can take five more years of the PPP.
We have already seen the action of those who seem not to understand the urgency of the situation; they have decided to put a condition on coalition and unity, they have decided to put ego and personal ambition ahead of national interest; they have declared their party’s symbol and image (whatever those are) paramount to people’s interest; they have declared that they are stuck in a mode of the politics of pettiness; they have demonstrated that they are not capable of moving on in the interest of seeking good governance.
My friend they have demonstrated that they might be willing to facilitate another five years of unthinkable suffering and hardship for Guyanese people.
But like I said before, people are not as docile as you and others think. We have examined your uttering and gleaned your disingenuous intention.
Those who come with the position that Corbin is an obstacle to some coalition must, as of necessity revisit what happened in 2006.
Was Corbin the obstacle again to the coalition he, Robert Corbin, initiated? Before Desmond Trotman’s, WPA executive, insightful writings on this subject, some were, like Sergeant, attempting to hoodwink us to believe that gossip.
Joey Jagan also told us “how it went down”, through his timely intervention. So that view has already been debunked, Mr. Sergeant and those of like minds. Advance another talking point.
Does Mr. Sergeant have a view on President Jagdeo’s recent unpatriotic comments leveled against Guyanese businesses? Is Sergeant not interested to find out how the Private Sector Commission can remain silent in face of this comment by the President? Hats off to Mr. Robert Badal, of the Pegasus Hotel, he has demonstrated that he will not be intimidated by the power of immunity, nor the power of the President.
Only you can make the change! Time to transform Guyana.
Lurlene Nestor

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