Proven leadership and not ‘intellectual curiosity’ is critical in determining our next president

Apr 12, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
A few days ago, President Bharrat Jagdeo walked on the stage at a massive gospel concert and tells Guyana and the world that he is recommitting himself and the nation to God.
As he sought to reflect on the goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ, with his quote of scriptures, he invited Leader of the AFC, Mr. Raphael Trotman, on stage and together these men sought to make amends by apologising to each other, for whatever they think they would have done to one another.
Most Guyanese, many of whom thought that the President was merely engaging in an exercise of “political grandstanding and electioneering”, met this public display of forgiveness with mixed reaction.
Some thought that he should have used the opportunity to retract his racially motivated and inciting charges he made at Babu John. Others prayed and hoped that the President was sincere and genuine.
I particularly, refrained from making any comment earlier, and wanted to wait and see, since I believe that the President could not make such bold and public gestures and statements and continue to cuss down and make condescending remarks about others. I was prepared to give Mr. Jagdeo the benefit of the doubt. However, my greatest fears were confirmed when I read what the President told the PPP members at the party’s Essequibo Conference, held to endorse Mr. Ramotar.
While making his case for Ramotar, Mr. Jagdeo in his usually abrasive manner told the participants; “Granger (the PNCR’s Presidential Candidate) is an old man, Donald Ramotar is young.” Now, where is the renewed and born again Jagdeo.
Is he saying to Guyanese who are 65 years old and above that they are unfit, to take up leadership roles in the country?
Is Jagdeo and the PPP/C saying that these Guyanese are meaningless and therefore do not matter in the larger scheme of things in Guyana?
What bold disrespect of our senior citizens!
The President’s comments, again demonstrates a brazen condescending approach when speaking of Guyanese.
For some reason he behaves as though we are all a bunch of docile people who are not smart enough to recognise his overt racist attack, double standards, and dismissive attitude.
In this Essequibo situation, he called on the PPP/C supporters to reject David Granger because he is, according to him, old because Granger is 65 years old.
However, in the same breath he tells the same people that 61-year-old Donald Ramotar is young and so he must be their choice.
The question is, if 65 is old how can 61 be young, what is his yardstick for determining old and young, I bet if it were the other way around the words would not have changed.
Jagdeo’s approach to politics is symptomatic of the kind of politics the PPP/C engages in, they treat Guyanese, and more particularly, their members and supporters as thought these people cannot reason for themselves.
He behaves as if those gathered at the conference did not know that both Cheddi and Janet Jagan assumed the office of President of Guyana when they were both in their 70’s, did he think they were too old to lead, I think not.
The President’s reference to David Granger as ‘old’ should send a strong message to all Guyanese, and more particularly our senior citizens, that the PPP/C and Jagdeo has no respect for them.
At Babu John, the President took a swipe at youths, who the PPP/C realised are lining up behind Granger, when he inferred that young people are not capable of making sound decisions.
Now I guess it is the senior citizen’s time to get a “mouth licking” from Jagdeo.
How can the PPP/C view Guyanese in such disparaging light and still expect us to vote for them, I call on our senior citizens and youths to vote convincing for a leader and party that will not only respond to your needs but also respect you regardless of age, race, class or creed? The President thus far, has exposed the thinking of his party with regard to how they view us. It was disappointing that Ramotar, the candidate did not think it wise to apologise for the President or asked him to retract his negative comment, this confirms that Jagdeo’s comment is reflective of the PPP/C’s position.
However, what was most laughable was Mr. Jagdeo’s crunch phrase he used to promote the PPP/C candidate, Donald Ramotar. The President called on the people to make Ramotar their choice because, according to him, Ramotar is “intellectually curious” etc.
What a joke! Guyana does not need a “curious George” it needs a leader with the vision, mental and intellectual fortitude needed to put a halt to the downward decline in which we have been heading for more than a decade.
This country needs that kind of leader who understands the sufferings of the masses and who is willing to present policies and programmes to effectively address them.
Being ‘intellectually curious’ might be an appropriate phrase used to describe an advancing toddler, Mr. President. Do I interpret you to be saying to Guyanese that their best choice for a president is an advancing toddler, you recommend to them.
Come on let’s get serious, Guyana is plagued with a litany of problems; we have an ailing sugar industry, an almost dead rice industry, a propped up education system, a judicial system crippled with problems from backlog of cases to deep seated political interference, joblessness, a frightening crime and insecurity situation, heightened domestic violence, deplorable infrastructure, porous and dangerous borders which leave residents in the hinterland exposed to all sorts of problems, a dangerous drug cartel operation and drug trans-shipment organisation, an apparent systematic and institutionalized discrimination and victimization policy, but chief among these realities is the massive corruption in government.
The recent laptop fiasco demonstrates that this corruption is embedded in the highest office in the land, Office of the President. Mr. President, do you truly want to place such problems on the back of an ‘intellectually curious’ toddler?
I am convinced that Mr. Jagdeo has to respond to more than one ‘alter call’ followed up by counseling less he continues to ‘backslide’ and I hope that he embraces the usual support the church provides, in cases of new converts.
In the meantime let me advise him that every Guyanese is important and must be respected.
Lurlene Nestor

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