THIRTY-TWO YEARS AFTER….

Apr 10, 2011 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

---

Thirty-two years ago, during the One Love concert held in Jamaica, Reggae megastar Bob Marley called the leaders of the two main political parties on stage and held hands with them. It was a symbolic and powerful act to have seen the two leaders who were at serious loggerheads with each other, together with Bob on that stage.
At the time, Jamaica was wracked by intense political violence between supporters of these two parties. In bringing these two leaders together, Bob Marley hoped that it would send a message to all Jamaicans about the need for unity.
The gesture by Marley did not result in a reduction of violence, but it was seen as representing something that most Jamaicans desired.
Last Sunday night, something happened in the National Park that some say was historic, and others say was a miracle. Two leaders of our country, who have had political exchanges that at times could have been described as mean, came together and forgave each other for any wounds that their words may have caused.
The thousands gathered in the National Park felt they were genuine and they responded in affirmation. They cheered wildly because they saw two political rivals for one moment, bury their differences and seek forgiveness from each other. This is not an everyday or even a every year occurrence, and considering the hostile relations that are often held by our political leaders, it was a truly a historic event.
Whether it will last is another thing. But the roar of the crowd, their happiness at what they saw, said that they not only approved but this was what they had always wanted to see. This is what the people want. They want to see civility amongst our political leaders.
The people know that in politics there will be a certain rivalry and that this rivalry will result in things being said which may not always be meant, and which may not always be meant in a personal way. And so they understand that when persons are competing for political power there will be the intemperate exchanges at times. It happens in politics as it happens outside of politics.
Nothing pleases our people more than the sight of our leaders enjoying healthy relations.
Last Sunday night was not the first and only time that our leaders had embraced. Burnham and Jagan embraced when Guyana became Independent even though at the time they were bitter rivals. But both saw in Independence something bigger than their own parties; they saw what it meant for Guyana.
Not so long ago, there was an event where the leader of the opposition in Guyana held hands in prayer with the President of Guyana. This did not stop them afterwards from engaging in verbal political tit-for-tat.
But what happened last Sunday night was the first time in our history that two leaders of political parties publicly forgave each other. This is what was historic about last Sunday.
This was a good start to our political season. But things got even better when the presidential candidate of the PNCR congratulated the presidential candidate of the PPP and called for a civil campaign. This is what the people also want.
The stage has therefore been set for a peaceful and respectful political campaign. It is to be expected that there will be a few volleys thrown below the belt during the campaign. But there is no reason why the political campaigning should descend into the sort of negative and demeaning caricaturing that has characterised political campaigning in the past.
Mr. Granger must be taken at his word. He has called for civility during the campaign and there is no reason why he should not ensure that his party runs a campaign that avoids some of the terrible personality attacks of the past.
By calling for greater civility, Mr. Granger is implicitly committing to ensuring that the PNCR runs a respectful campaign. There is no reason why the PPP and Mr. Ramotar should not make a similar appeal.
Mr. Granger should be congratulated for his gesture which itself is historic, since it is the first time that a PNCR leader has congratulated a PPP leader on being his party’s presidential candidate.
Mr. Trotman and Mr. Jagdeo should be congratulated for burying the hatchet. It takes courage in a country like Guyana to do that, especially in an election year, and both men would have risen in the estimation of the people.
The President and Mr. Trotman have set a good example to build on the post-2006 elections when Guyanese accepted that the country must not go backwards but must continue to move forward, regardless of who is elected President.
Guyana should again be put first. The people want it and the leaders have made a start in the right direction. The people must ensure that these leaders stay the course.
Guyana may have turned an important corner in 2006 and judging from what has happened recently, we may have reached the point whereby anxieties about elections would become a thing of the past.

---

---