PPP and its old ploy to galvanise support

Mar 14, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Because we each have a spark of God residing in our hearts, we offend God when we offend other people. That is why Lord Jesus said we must love our neighbours as we love our selves.
Due to its demonizing of people racism is a crime against God. Those, who are bent on maintaining power, have no problem with offending God. So it is with the PPP. Never before in the history of the PPP has it been as venomous in its character assassination of an opposition presidential candidate as it has been with David Granger who is a man of high morality and religious values. The question is why?
Is it because David Granger stated that he would root out crime and corruption, and so some PPP leaders who have amassed fortunes and mansions are scared? Unfortunately, the PPP leaders in an effort to protect their interests are trying to whip up PPP style racism among Indians.
The occasion being used is the 1973 elections. When faced with the facts that in 1973 Granger was just a junior officer and therefore not in command of the GDF, neither was he in Berbice, nor did he shoot anyone, the PPP now seeks to discredit the Justice Dhan Jhappan Report. (Demerara Waves 03-12-11).
The PPP maliciously tries to disparage the good character of Justice Jhappan, as it always does with Indians who are not subservient to the PPP.
The PPP stated that the Commission of Inquiry was held by the PNC to justify the shooting at a time when the PNC practiced party paramountcy, and the GDF had sworn loyalty to the PNC. Let us debunk these statements by the PPP.
The PNC adopted cooperative socialism in 1974. By 1975 the PPP declared support for the PNC regardless of the 1973 elections. In 1977 the PPP demanded a National Government with the PNC and called the 135 days sugar strike to back up its ultimatum. The PNC responded with party paramountcy in keeping with socialism. It also got the loyalty of the GDF on ideological grounds. So paramountcy and army loyalty were not factors in 1973.
The events of the 1970’s are intertwined with the ideological battles of the socialist PNC and communist PPP. It is not as simple as the PPP wants us to believe.
In 1973 Guyana still had an independent and strong judicial system. It was required by law that any shooting by the security forces be the subject of a Commission of Inquiry.
The elections were held on 16th July and the Inquiry was convened on 15th September. Justice Jhappan presided over the proceedings. He found that the PPP tried to foment disturbances by telling its supports to surround the polling places and secure the ballot boxes. The GDF was deployed to assist the police.
Lt. Joe Henry arrived at 64 Village after sunset and his vehicle was blocked by some persons who were hurling missiles at the soldiers. The Inquiry found that Lt. Henry had used reasonable force to extricate his troops from the situation. Failure to do so would have led to more civilian casualties, and possibly the soldiers being killed. The PPP had an ulterior motive for telling its supporters to surround the places of poll.
Dr Jagan, after he was removed from office in 1964 by the USA, had to know that the USA would not allow him back in office so long as he remained communist, anti USA, and pro USSR. He was convinced that the USA and world capitalism would collapse and so he was adamant in his pursuit of communism, rather than the interest of Guyana and his supporters.
His call in 1973 was meant to show the USA how much support he had, and how communism was advancing. It was also meant to provoke the security forces into using force so that he could internationalise his struggle for communism. At the local village level the focus would be on rigged elections and not on his intellectual shortcomings.
In doing so he deceived Indians into believing they could return him to power. It was also an attempt, a successful one, at reinforcing Indian suspicion of the African. This was the PPP’s method of mustering and rallying Indian support. It is PPP racism.
It is shameful that after being in power for 19 years the PPP has to resort to racism to whip up Indian support. We must not be fooled this time. Why appeal to racial solidarity? Why not boast of the developments on the Corentyne such as the US$250 million sugar factory at Skeldon. Oh yeah.
That’s right. It is a white elephant that produces far less sugar than the old factory. And yes the industry has been wrecked. Sugar workers have had to strike continuously against the anti-working class policies of the PPP.
How come the PPP leaders amassed fortunes and built mansions, while the sugar workers are still paid starvation wages?
Malcolm Harripaul

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