“DON’T LOSE IT, FREDDIE!”

Dec 05, 2010 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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By Khemraj Ramjattan
Chairman AFC

At the AFC’s Special Conference held in October at the Ocean View Convention Centre, the point was made to delegates and observers that the AFC, and especially its leadership, will be criticised, disparaged and poured scorn upon by our critics and antagonists.
There are many such critics and antagonists whose purpose and intention will vary. Some will see that there is a need to shake some sense into us to get things moving with more haste. Others will just want to destroy. Others still, just for the sake of critiquing.
Being in a party which insists upon a liberal democratic culture, I advised that our leadership remain calm at such nudges and assaults; and not enter a slugfest at every sign of a criticism. Such an approach will distinguish us from the two other main political parties. This will differentiate us from the existing attitude of hard confrontational politics.
There is a plus side to this attitude. It promotes the culture of freedom of expression, and it makes our leadership more thick-skinned, which in itself breeds the culture of living the examined life. And I need not say that a party’s leadership which subjects itself to the utmost scrutiny will gain credibility and integrity and, as a matter of course, popularity.
So indeed we must be prepared to withstand taunts, suck-teeth, biting criticisms, abrasive attacks and much more.
Recently, a serious critic, who I still believe will vote for the AFC, has been rather aggressive and somewhat intemperate in language about the AFC’s stance of still being in Parliament. He seeks to argue that the AFC is contradictory when it makes claims that Parliament is dysfunctional or not functioning optimally, yet the AFC remains inside such a Parliament. His point is that the AFC should remove itself from this institution. The critic is of course Mr. Freddie Kissoon, my good friend.
There is absolutely nothing contradictory in severely criticizing a Government’s running of Parliament and saying so in that same Parliament, Freddie. There is no breach of any moral obligation in doing so. This is not “dishonesty” or “foolishness”, or “lying”. The ruling party manipulates the House for its selfish motives, and it is not the democratic institution Guyanese would want it to be. But this must not mean that the AFC must not keep faith with this institution and struggle inside of it and outside of it to redeem it.
There is a certain irrationality, and an obvious misconceiving of principled political praxis when an approach such as Freddie’s is adopted. Intelligent people will know that it is primarily in a representative Parliament, duly constituted after free and fair elections, where the fights and battles must be taken to and fought out in a civilized manner without any violence and bloodshed for a better happiness for Guyanese. To do otherwise is to indulge in anarchy and to set the stage for even a worse scenario. Indeed, this PPP Government will cause excruciating frustrations to the Opposition parties and their constituents when it uses its majority to stall that which is right and reasonable from happening. But staying there and battling is what is to be done.
A number of critics recently wanted to fix the agenda of the AFC. As I have said, those with sound, legitimate propositions will be accorded due consideration. But those who come with a wild yapping and yelling, and with propositions as incoherent as they are irrational, will be courteously denied any such consideration.
By the way Freddie, I noticed you, who are so critical of Bishop Edghill and his unconstitutional ERC, were present at that entity’s symposium at Princess Hotel. Myself and Sheila thought it wise to utilize the forum to set out the AFC’s vision as was requested of us. It was well received as you are aware. If as you have publicly said over and over that the ERC is unconstitutional and the Chairmanship of Bishop Edghill is invalid and void, what were you doing there? The reason why you were there may be useful in understanding why the AFC is in Parliament.
Again, you who have written so much against the PPP Government’s incompetence and corruption, will be the first to agree that these writings have not had an effect on stopping such vulgarity. This must not mean, Freddie, that you must cease writing.
The struggle must go on…..be it in Parliament, in the Papers, in the Pulpit, or whatsoever the Platform…. to, firstly, win the argument and, secondly, by this means to win the minds of the voters. And please let this struggle be peaceful, never violent.

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