Democracy? Did it ever come?

Oct 06, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
On October 5, 1992 free and fair elections were held in Guyana, resulting in the end of 28 years of PNC rule and signaling the beginning of a new era with the PPP/C Government. The lead-up to Election Day in 1992 was filled with promise, hype and expectation. Dr. Cheddi  Jagan had lobbied successfully for free and fair elections to be overseen by very strong members of the international community.
International observers from the Council of Freely-Elected Heads of Government, led by President Jimmy Carter, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) had arrived in Guyana to watch over the electoral process. The Council’s observation team comprised over 60 persons and included representatives of the Carter Center, a representative of the Organization of American States (OAS), a group of Canadians from the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, and a British Member of Parliament.
Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte facilitated this open and transparent election and was duly voted out of office on October 5, 1992.
In 1992 the PPP/C campaigned heavily for change. Actually the slogan used was: “Time for change: Time to rebuild”. Dr. Jagan travelled the length and breadth of Guyana spreading his message of returning Guyana to a democratic country. Some of his one-liners were: “The dawning of a new era”, “The return of democracy to Guyana”, “Lean and clean governance”.
The PPP/C indeed had wonderful visions for Guyana. The political rhetoric that flowed sweetly from the mouths of the party’s leadership did inspire many Guyanese who were desperately looking for change. The PPP/C vision statement read: “…It is about good governance, about involving all the Guyanese people. It is about enhancing democracy and guaranteeing participation of the people. It’s about transparency, accountability and equity. It’s about making our lives better. It is about ensuring that the Guyanese people have a place to call a home. It is about having access to water. It is about good education, good health, about decent living, about safety and security, justice and fairness.”
With the devaluation of the Guyanese dollar and the other structural adjustments and conditionalities that were as a result of the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP), Guyanese voted on October 5, 1992 for change.
Democracy returned to Guyana! Or at least we thought it did. From 1992 to 2010 as reflections and assessments are done, Guyanese need to ask themselves some very harsh questions. With an election due in less than a year, are we going to continue along this same path with the same government we’ve been saddled with for 18 years?
Are we really living in a democracy? Can any of us recognize democracy anywhere in Guyana?
Reflect on the vision statement above especially the third sentence. Is there transparency, accountability or equity in Guyana? What about safety and security, justice and fairness; are Guyanese safer today than they were 18 years ago?
Is the administration of Justice fairer today than it was 18 years ago? Are Guyanese enjoying a better quality of life 18 years into the new era that was ushered in by the PPP/C?
Desmond Hoyte’s ERP hurt the Guyanese people tremendously and he paid for it by losing that election in 1992. Today Guyanese are faced with Value Added Tax (VAT) of 16 percent, rampant corruption, unemployment, crime, racial marginalization and a President who embarrasses himself every time he speaks in public.
Was October 5, 1992 really the dawn of a new era, or error?
Whatever happened to the vision of Dr. Cheddi Jagan? Today Guyanese are faced with an economy that continues to fail. The drug trade is alive and well. Very organized crime and violence exists in Guyana. Under the ‘democratic’ watch of the PPP/C, Guyana witnessed its worst crime spree in history.
In this ‘democratic’ Guyana there is a stubborn reluctance by the government to investigate the operations of a Phantom Squad that resulted in the murder of over 200 Guyanese citizens.
The credibility of the PPP/C government has been brought into disrepute through its alignment with drug lords, secret business deals, unaccountability in the handling of the consolidated fund and the lotto monies, uncontrollable ministers of the government and many other political dilemmas.
People tend to say that history has a way of repeating itself. I strongly believe that Guyanese are once again at that juncture where they once again will vote for change. There needs to be an end to the political mismanagement that passes for governance in Guyana.
On October 9, 1992 at his swearing in ceremony, President Cheddi Jagan in his inaugural speech said: “We went to the elections with the slogan: “Time for Change: Time to Rebuild.”
We have attained the first objective of a change in government. Now, all of us together, whatever our party, political affiliation, whatever our race or ethnicity, whatever our creed, must put our shoulders to the wheel. It is time to embrace each other and work arm in arm to rebuild our beloved Guyana. . . . We must move forward together and make into reality our motto: “One People One Nation, One Destiny…”
Guyanese need to be really honest as they reflect upon the PPP/C 18 year rule. Guyanese must decide whether or not they will continue with this corrupt administration come 2011 when the power to bring change is placed in their hands.
Guyanese must indeed work at rebuilding Guyana as Dr. Jagan envisaged. The first objective will be to vote for a new government.
Richard Francois
Dubai – UAE

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