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The ultimate political payback

Apr 08, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
The PPP continues to show their democratic centralism by selecting Donald Ramotar as their presidential candidate. After the truly democratic primary process conducted by the PNCR, the selection of Ramotar should send an eerie signal to the people of Guyana.
Let me remind my fellow Guyanese that the PPP nominee is the General Secretary of the Party and President Jagdeo’s choice. This is the ultimate political pay back to a General Secretary who paved the way for a young Jagdeo to be coronated by Janet Jagan.
So what can we expect from this soviet trained communist? We have already seen his preference for the undemocratic selection of the Party’s candidate. Also we know that he will be no friend of labour and the working man.
Under the tenure of this General Secretary of the PPP the sugar industry has been decimated and the mining town of Linden turned into a virtual ghost town. Endemic insensitivity towards the sugar industry in Guyana has seen the steady decline in production and the stagnation of wages for the majority of Indo-Guyanese, who comprise the bulk of the labour force.
Linden, once a thriving mining town is now a waste land for the un-employed and under-employed, thanks to the policies of PPP Government.
Are we to understand that Mr. Ramotar wants to do to all of Guyana what he and his Party has already done to the sugar industry and Linden? The PPP have no vision, for as Brazil and the rest of the Caribbean diversified their sugar industries to meet the challenges of globalization. The PPP continued to heavily subsidize the industry refusing to explore alternatives like ethanol, dairy farming and the canning of fruits and vegetables.
Under Mr. Ramotar’s stewardship the bauxite industry and Linden has been brought to its knees. The people of that PNCR stronghold have been marginalised, and the workers’ rights trampled on by a ruthless employer bent on exploiting the labour force. There is no good news in the rice industry either, as farmers struggle to keep their heads above water (literally and figuratively), and regional quotas are consistently not met.
The public lawlessness and criminal escapades that accompany the under-performance of these major industries only add to the poor report card of Government.
One would have expected that the General Secretary would have used his very powerful position as leader of the PPP to curb the many excesses of the administration. But he did not; he turned a blind eye as government officials treated the national treasury as if it was their personal piggy
banks. He watched and said nothing as the human rights abuses that claimed the lives of hundreds of Guyanese citizens took place and never registered a complaint on behalf of his Party or his own behalf. This Party leader failed to lead when a Government Minister from his Party was executed; he failed to put an end to the criminal activities of Roger Khan and the drug barons who control the corridors of power. He failed the people of Lindo Creek and he failed the people of Agricola.
Now we can expect to hear from Donald Ramotar about what he will do for Guyana. We can expect to hear all the great things he will do for the workers of this nation, but least we forget Mr. Ramotar has been in power longer than Mr. Jagdeo. Electing Ramotar will actually be a continuation of the Jagdeo regime. Guyanese can expect more of the same. With a thin resume, and a far from stellar performance as Party General Secretary, Ramotar will be kept on a tight leash by his patron.
Mark Archer

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