When abuse becomes the norm

Nov 15, 2011 Editorial

There are two more weeks to the elections and in that period many are expecting even worse behaviour on the campaign trail. Usually, election campaigns are usually forums where each political party seeks to gain the largest bloc of voters. To do this they would level the most scathing criticisms of their opponents.
This is usually done in the spirit of the game. At some of the campaigns there is the usual heckling; one can expect rotten eggs and the like. However, this year things have been taken to unprecedented heights. Not only have the criticisms become more vitriolic, they have also singled out people for abuse to the point that there are those who may be incited to do these people harm.
If anything, spearheading the vitriolic campaign is none other than President Bharrat Jagdeo, who, in his own words, is not running for public office. He has singled out people who are not even close to the elections campaign for his abuse. His political opponents have fared no better. And sections of the media have also been criticized on every occasion that President Jagdeo has taken to the political platform.
This can only mean one thing, the days of clean elections campaign may be over, at least for now. Suffice it to say that the objects of the presidential attacks have refrained from respond in similar vein. This may be because they are aware of a Code of Conduct; it may be that they are familiar with the rules of the political campaign; and then again, it may be that they know that there are crazy people out there who do not need much incitement to become riled up.
But why the vehement attacks against people? The chief culprit seems to be saying that anyone who dares voice even the slightest criticism must be deemed an enemy of the state. And because of this perception the ruling party has coined an equation that suggests that the major newspapers in Guyana are aligned to one or other of the opposition parties.
He does not accept the fact that these newspapers and media houses have been reporting more than ever, on the spate of corruption within the government. Even the presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar was candid enough to admit that there is corruption. President Jagdeo conceded that there may be some level of corruption but at the level of the contracts. In short, his administration is spotless clean.
If this is the case in his judgement then he must be prepared to explain the untold wealth some of his Ministers managed to accrue although their earnings do not support the acquisition. It is this focus by the media that has rankled the Head of State to the extent that sees his critics as opposition elements.
We can understand his frustration at the defections from his party but we hasten to note that every party campaigning for the upcoming polls has suffered defections, none more than A Partnership for National Unity. Yet we have not heard the kind of vitriol that pours from President Jagdeo being leveled at the defectors. The truth is that they are largely ignored.
But people like Moses Nagamootoo who recently defected from the PPP have not been so lucky. Moses has been called names for which he would have moved to the courts against the ordinary person. And as if on cue, many others on the PPP campaign trail have joined in this abuse of people.
This is a worrying development. There is a life after the elections; Guyanese will once more have to live with each other. Surely President Jagdeo cannot ignore this fact so it is worrying that he is pursuing a course of national division.
Indeed, he must be above the law because the PPPC Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar, clearly stated that despite the fact that his party has signed a code of conduct he cannot constrain President Jagdeo to adhere to the code. This means that the President is beyond the law.
Surely, he should not be allowed to incite hostility and get away. He rushed to the courts to protest what he perceived to be a racial label directed at him some months ago. That matter is still before the courts, but he bluntly called one of his political opponents a racist knowing that he would be free from prosecution.
How duplicitous can one get?

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When abuse becomes the norm

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