Jagdeo and the PPP/C the climax of hypocrisy

Mar 14, 2011 Letters

---

Dear Editor,
On Sunday 6 March 2011, President Jagdeo reminded Guyanese and the world of what would be his true legacy after he leaves office. He has proven to us that even at the most solemn and respectable occasions he will not disappoint us, that he will live up to expectation.
So at the Babu John activity to commemorate the deaths of the Jagans, two Guyanese political icons and former Presidents, Jagdeo went on his usual “cuss out rampage” to promote his legacy. It was unbelievable, though, that none of his comrades could have harnessed him and reminded him that his posture, rage and lies were not in keeping with the kind of dignified posture the occasion demanded.
Since, that did not happen I could only conclude that the PPP/C believes that Jagdeo was doing the right thing or that they just see him as a “loose cannon” which cannot be harnessed and which they did not care to restrain.
Which ever is the right reason it still proves that there is a kind of “collective hypocrisy” which exist between Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP/C, neither remembers that these people whose death they were commemorating were Presidents of Guyana and were not just leaders of PPP/ PPP/C, that fact differentiates the PNCR from the PPP/C, particularly, in the way they honour their past leaders, and former Presidents, and commemorate their deaths.
At the Babu John function, Jagdeo made the PNCR’s presidential candidate, David Granger, his target of assault by hurling a mouthful of vicious lies and accusing him of heinous wrongdoings.
Like a ship without any sail, he charged that Granger was involved in some 1973 ballot box fiasco and called on the older folks to tell the younger folks of those stories. His ranting continued as he charged wildly that the former Brigadier has “blood on his hands”.
Mind you, Jagdeo is making these claims when David Granger had already provided the evidence to the contrary and debunked an earlier PPP/C propagandist, who was sent in advance to make these very charges.
Jagdeo is also aware that unlike, what has happened with the atrocities committed during his, the PPP/C rein, an enquiry into those 1973 happenings was conducted, and a report submitted and made public. However, today Guyana awaits one inquest from the many hundreds of murders, slaying, and execution that he and the PPP/C presided over with the help of their phantom squad. Since he was in his usual cuss out mood Jagdeo should have told the people at Babu John how Minister Sawh and his family met their gruesome murder, he should have told them whose hands their blood is on. He should have also explained why Minister Ramsammy’s signature is purported to be on the Ministry of Health letterhead in the letter used to order the purchase of Roger Khan’s spy equipment (the infamous laptop).
He should have told them whether this spy equipment was used to track down Sash Sawh his siblings and others killed that fateful night. He should also tell them who killed Ronald Waddle, remind them of the Lindo Creek gruesome massacre, Lusignan Massacre, the Bartica Massacre, the Agricola Massacre, Jagdeo should tell the people whether or not his hands and his party’s flag is not stained with blood from these atrocities.
I can go on and on, these acts of barbarism did not happen 38 years ago, they are fresh in the in minds of the young people who have seen murder, torture, kidnappings, slayings execution, beheading, and other cruel acts and vile acts of criminality perpetrated on innocent Guyanese.
The hypocrisy of Jagdeo’s comments stands out, even more glaring, in his call for the residents in the Corentyne, a largely Indo Guyanese population, to remind the younger generations of what he wants them to remember of the past. This comment is in contrast to what he told Buxtonians, a predominantly African Guyanese village, a few months ago. He told Buxton to forget about the past and move on, this past he referred to, is less than a decade old and points to the infamous crime spree of 2002 and beyond.
However, at Babu John he tells the older folks to remind the younger generation of his version of the 1973 elections. The inference here is dangerous and has the potential to unearth serious racial and ethnic problems.
While it is clear to me that Jagdeo takes pleasure in engaging in acts of character assassination because he believes he is immune to lawsuits by virtue of his office, it would be a serious indictment on the entire Guyanese population should the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) remains silent on the President’s outbursts.
Outbursts which only serve to conjure up sentiments of race hate and which can contribute to the promotion of a dangerously fearful and tense environment especially in this election year. The ERC’s silence on this matter will say to all of Guyana that they have not, the moral authority to sanction anyone else who they deem might have engaged in similar unhelpful behaviour.
If Jagdeo feels that he does not have the legal obligation to desist from engaging in libelous and slanderous behaviour, he has a deep moral responsibility to this nation to act and behave responsibly and not engage in acts to promote and augur ethnic and racial problems, and this duty the ERC should remind him of. His simple, elementary behaviour continues to diminish the value and respect of the office of the President of Guyana.
I agree with Mr. Granger whose apt response might serve to remind us that the name President Bharrat Jagdeo and the word morality cannot be used in the same sentence.
According to the advertisement put out by the group, “Youths For David Granger”, Mr. Jagdeo is all about blah! Blah! Blah! They could not have said it better.
Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP/C seem to have serious concerns with the young people who demonstrated overwhelming support for David Granger and so he now come to infer that they are not fit to make decisions for themselves so the mantra now is to attempt a brainwash of our youth by, according to Jagdeo, “remind them of the past”.
This is an insult to our youths and the President and the PPP/C should offer an apology to Guyanese youths.
Lurlene Nestor

---

---