Guyanese have experienced the same processes with same outcomes as exemplified by Burnham and Jagdeo

May 30, 2011 Letters

---

Dear Editor,
The question arises as to why did Mr. Vishnu Bisram and others “fight” a dictatorship? Did Mr. Bisram and company fully understand what core principles they were fighting against and for?
The installation of a Republican Executive Presidency constitution after independence in Guyana was fashioned and aligned after that of the Soviet Union and Cuba. Such a constitution is internally driven resulting in marginalised groups and a dictatorship despite or in-spite of the government being elected democratically or rigged. Guyanese have experienced both processes (rigged and “democratic”) with same outcomes as exemplified by President Burnham and President Jagdeo.
In the first case under President Burnham it began with the first of many groups by marginalising the predominately Afro-Guyanese civil service and replacing them with PNC party card-carrying members. This was called the ‘Paramountcy of the Party’ Doctrine – a supposed “socialism” theme.
The largest and the most visible group that was marginalised was the Indo-Guyanese and this became the focus for the anti-dictatorial struggle and the merging of opposition groups.
So bewildered were the WPA leaders (Dr. W. Rodney, Dr. D. Hinds, Dr. R. Roopnarine, Mr. Kwayana) that Indo-Guyanese were being marginalised that they wanted to show that political leadership must be inclusive and shared governance was a way forward under the new constitution (Republican Executive Presidency constitution) that they instituted a joint leadership with leading members of both ethnic communities (Dr. W. Rodney and Dr. R. Roopnarine). One of the main reasons for opposition to the Republican Executive Presidency constitution turned dictatorship under President Burnham was partly because a major part of the population, namely Indo-Guyanese, were being marginalised in nearly every sector.
It is apparent that Mr. Vishnu Bisram did not understand that the fight against the dictatorship was also against the marginalisation of the Indo-Guyanese community.
Seemingly, Mr. Bisram did not comprehend what the principles the opposition was fighting against then and maybe he is like most PPPites misguided or brainwashed in their thinking that he (they) were fighting against an Afro-Guyanese party the PNC, led by an Afro-Guyanese in President Burnham. This ingrained thinking and conditioning is still is evident from in the mindsets of most PPPites from their discussion.
Fast forward to the current situation and we have an “elected” “democratic” Republican Executive
Presidency constitution under President Jagdeo who is doing exactly the same maneuvers that President Burnham employed, but with far more sinister objectives.
The current government has replaced the civil service with PPPites and caused the marginalisation of another large ethnic group, the Afro-Guyanese, from every sector. This so far seems to be delightful to most die-hards PPPites, but shameful to the rest of us.
If Mr. Bisram had a clue as to why he supposedly ‘fought’ against the “Burnham” dictatorship in the first case, then he would have come to the conclusion that Mr. Ogunseye and Dr. Hinds has every right to have a peaceful demonstration against the marginalisation of Afro-Guyanese under this Republican Executive Presidency constitution under President Jagdeo.
There are very few or none of the likes of Dr. Walter Rodney or Mr. Kwayana within the Indo-Guyanese community who has voiced fierce opposition to Afro-Guyanese marginalisation. This is sad because we (Guyanese) will all have to pay for these injustices sooner or later.
The irony for people like Mr. Bisram and members of the PPP is that these same current maneuvers of Republican Executive Presidency constitution under President Burnham that were used to dispatch Guyanese into distant lands, these same distasteful policies and acts are being employed by the PPP under President Jagdeo.
PPP supporters are now supporting this marginalisation of Afro-Guyanese. This sadness is also reflected in our society that indulges in the words of Mr. Bisram that he has so blissfully and openly displayed without reprimand.
Further there are other groups of Guyanese that span the whole spectrum such as academic, educator, industrialist, artist and various professionals that have been marginalised since independence and will and cannot find their way back into the broader Guyanese society to contribute to our development.
Mr. Bisram is indeed one that fits in the above group and his constant harmful writings, based on erroneous principles, are acts of constant self-inflicted wounds that will only perpetuate the continuation of the current state of dictatorship/marginalisation.
Anand Daljeet

---

---