Conflicting signals from AFC leadership

Oct 12, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am responding to Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan’s, “Democracy’s essential infrastructure must be built – not its façade,” published in the Kaieteur News of October 3, 2010.
The article was contradictory in many respects and sends mixed signals to the electorate and confuses the substantial issues. He seems to suggest that somehow the established political parties in Guyana have indorsed political violence. This is of course very misleading and ought to be condemned.
Mr. Ramjattan writes at length about the need to adhere to the democratic principles of elections in Guyana. Perhaps he has forgotten that elections are a part of the political culture in Guyana. It is a prerequisite for a healthy body politic and is endorsed by virtually all of the political parties, including the PNCR and the PPP. The Guyanese people do not need to be lectured on this matter.
It is a contradiction for the AFC leaders to talk about “boycotting” the elections in Guyana and at the same time become an advocate of building the “essential infrastructure” for democracy. It is not constructive for the AFC to talk about boycotting the elections and seek to democratize the system at the same time. This democratization process is not only the responsibility of the incumbent government, but also the responsibility of the opposition, including the AFC leadership, and indeed the civic responsibility of the entire population.
Mr. Ramjattan does not cite any statistics to support his view that protests and demonstrations necessarily lead to violence in Guyana. He has not demonstrated that the many killings that have taken place in Guyana in the last few years are the result of demonstrations and protests.
The idea from the leadership of the AFC that somehow there is a “better route” to follow and “this is the task of political leaderships and the intellectual class” is misguided. It is the intervention and involvement of the general population that will bring the desired quantitative and qualitative changes in Guyana. The participation of civil society, the labour unions, religious institutions, and the media are crucial for a functioning democratic system. Not only political parties, but also civil society constitutes an important source for change. Without the broad participation of these groups, a low voter participation rate may occur in next year’s general election, reminiscent of the 69% participation rate in the 2006 general elections. The various civic groups may have the capacity to exert a considerable degree of political influence and enhance the functioning of democracy within the Guyanese polity.
The AFC leadership seems to be unwittingly supporting the view of President Jagdeo that the opposition in this country is the only opposition in the world that does not want election. The mere fact that the leadership of the AFC can consider boycotting the elections is indicative that the President may be accurate with respect to some members of the opposition. Or it may be indicative of the lack of confidence in the electoral process or the outcome of the electoral process on the part of the AFC leadership.
Andrew Felix

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