Are there viable alternatives to the PPP?

Apr 21, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
As we approach the election which is scheduled for no later than December 2011, those of us longing for change and a new trajectory with respect to Guyana’s development are anxious to discern manifestations of any viable alternatives to the PPP.
We are of course, acutely aware of the litany of events of misrule by the Jagdeo cabal, the facilitation of corruption and in many instances narco-trafficking, and the tacit support for all this by the PPP with its new found embrace of the Burnham Constitution. We view this as ample evidence of the deceit and hypocrisy with which the entrenched ruling elite has approached issues of governance and democratic practice since 1992. The vast majority of the Guyanese people remain ill served.
Positive development by the political opposition has been miniscule. True, the PNC recently signaled to the people, its willingness to engage in a democratic process to resolve issues concerning leadership with David Granger emerging as its presidential candidate with approximately 40 percent of a vote of PNC delegates. On the other hand, the AFC having decided on its presidential candidate in Khemraj Ramjattan, now rebuffs all efforts to set aside an almost visceral abhorrence of the PNC to make room for exploring a coalition (of the opposition parties) as a way forward.
The touted alternatives, JOPP, or even the involvement of “Civil Society” as some sort of opposition grouping sans the legitimacy of a party structure or constituency, really would suffer from a lack of starting torque without the participation of both of the opposition parliamentary parties.
For those of us in the Diaspora clamouring for change there appears to be a lack of urgency in the political dialogue dedicated towards forging the kind of unity that is required to pry the PPP from its current position of incumbency. Looking at the current reality the question that needs a definitive answer is:  Can any of the current or proposed configurations emerge as a successor in an election campaign?
We believe Granger to have the perspicacity to ascertain that his marginal win in the recent PNC nomination contest does not suggest a mandate that will sweep him to power.  That he, paraphrasing Ogunseye of ACDA, “has eventually bowed to internal pressure to support coalition politics and shared governance…in stark contrast to mouthing off about the party winning the election while on the internal campaign trail..” forces us to enquire further.
Why does Granger, for example, rely on an agreement signed by his erstwhile competitors to explain his perceived lack of magnanimity in reaching out to those in his own camp to ensure a united approach? While many who support the PNC have elected to join a conspiracy of silence with respect to the many missteps of the current Presidential Candidate, those of us who recognise that the PNC must play a critical role in effecting real change prefer to offer this critical analysis as we become more exasperated with the apparent lack of strategic focus.  We are desirous of a Government of National Unity, or at the very least a viable coalition with a fighting chance of winning the next election.
In the 2006 polls, the following represents the results for the parties: – PPP 54 % with 183,867 votes; PNC 34% with 114,608; AFC 4.8% with 28,366; GAP/ROAR 1.2 % with 4249 votes. PNC AFC8.4%in region ten the pnc won with 7212 votesppp got 3189 and afc 3166 but of note, some 5-6 thousand did not vote 2006 the ppp got 54% of the total votes cast PNC 34% AFC8.4%
in region ten the pnc won with 7212 votes ppp got 3189 and afc 3166 but of note, some 5-6 thousand did not vote 2006 the ppp got 54% of the total votes cast PNC 34% AFC8.4%
in region ten the pnc won with 7212 votes ppp got 3189 and afc 3166  but of note, some 5-6 thousand did not vote 2006 the ppp got 54% of the total votes cast PNC 34% AFC8.4%
in region ten the pnc won with 7212 votes ppp got 3189 and afc 3166 but of note, some 5-6 thousand did not vote The objective reality is that the current participants in JOPP are by no means a representative segment of a large portion of potential constituents.
The effort to  suggest that JOPP in its current configuration represents a viable coalition is mindless posturing and poses the danger of misleading an increasingly hopeless electorate which can be finding little solace in the machinations of an out of touch political elite unengaged with the people and uninspiring in their efforts to chart a new course.
Similarly,  the AFC must understand fully the real risk to the betterment of Guyana, in pursuing a policy of selfish intransigence in defiance of its decidedly anti-PPP support base, and the likelihood that such a base would evaporate, either returning to the PNC or even more likely, joining the ranks of the disillusioned non-voters. How does current AFC policy address the desperate necessity to sacrifice personal ambition in order to ensure the removal of the debilitating burden of oppression that Guyana now bears?
Additionally, in our view, calling for Shared Governance is a laudable goal as it is the only viable mechanism which will remove Guyana from the downward spiral of racially divisive politics.  However, the fact is, Shared Governance cannot be achieved unless the political actors embrace this goal in a new political dispensation.
As such, the focus should be a viable coalition that would pursue Shared Governance and Constitutional Change as legislative agendas upon achieving a majority in Parliament.
The PPP is arguably at its most vulnerable point in its recent history.  Guyana needs a broad coalition of political actors, Trade Unionists and Civil Society such as GHRA, SASOD, Red Thread and other socially and politically sensitive NGO’s to mount a robust challenge to the PPP.
We urge those political actors including the AFC and PNC to stop playing games with the future of Guyana.  A broad coalition is the solution.  We must act now and act fast.  Shelve the egos and bizarre fantasies and obsession with the Executive Presidency!
Substantive and significant political work and organising have to be done.  Many have to be registered to vote and inspired to use this very critical tool in choosing Guyana’s future direction.  We need the leadership that will effect this change.  We need it now!
Edward Meertins-George,
Edmond Braithwaite
Leroy Nelson,
Brian Benn
Rawle Blackman

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