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Lionel Lowe is writing falsehoods

May 25, 2012 Letters

 

Dear Editor,
Mr. Lionel Lowe needs to stop perpetuating falsehoods about our political history (KN May 19) in seeking to defend the PNC’s track record on the abuse of democracy and human rights.  For the record, I am not now or ever been a member or supporter of the PPP.  But even the most virulent anti-communist or critic of the PPP will admit that that the PPP fought for universal adult suffrage and the restoration of democracy after the rise of the dictatorship. It is disheartening to know that there still exists in Guyana people like Lowe who refuses to recognize the role PPP has played in Guyana’s political and the contributions Indians have made to the nation.  Lowe needs to read historical accounts from objective sources.
Contrary to what Lowe feels, Indians did fight for the right to vote as did members (like Kwayana, Clive Thomas, Van Sluytman, Nigel Westmaas, etc) of other ethnic groups.  I find it incredible to believe that Lowe interviewed PPP supporters and he did not find anyone who believes PPP fought for the restoration of democracy in Guyana in 1992. For the record, the PPP was not the only party that fought for free and fair elections, several other parties and groups and diaspora organizations (including a few I was associated with in New York) also joined the struggle for the restoration of democracy.
Lowe claims it was the PNC that restored democracy to Guyana in 1992. He should tell us why Guyana was not a democracy prior to 1992 and what led the PNC to give in to free and fair elections in 1992. The PNC was adamantly opposed to democratic reforms in Guyana and did everything to stifle the restoration of democratic governance. It was the pressure from the US, Britain, Canada and other western powers, made possible by lobbying from diaspora groups, that forced the PNC to give in to free and fair elections and that laid the basis for the current electoral system.
Since the PPP returned to office in 1992, it cannot be dispute that democracy has been institutionalized.  People speak and write freely without concerns of being victimized.  Their new found freedom allows them to make all kinds of claims that cannot be substantiated with evidence.  Elections are free and fair.  Yes, I agree with Lowe that the PPP made many mistakes during its tenure in office and the voters had a right to punish it as they did last November.
However, the fact that the PPP did not condemn communist countries for not allowing multi parties to represent the working class is not justification to deny the ballot to Guyanese.  And for the record, contrary to Lowe pens not all communist parties were voted out of office in former communist countries.  Voters in former communist (as well as other) alternated among different competing parties. Nothing can justify denying people the right to vote.
Voting in Guyana is along racial lines. But I have not seen any outward document in which the PPP directly called on its supporters to vote race.  It is a fact that the PPP appealed for support among all ethnic groups. It is because Indians felt neglected by the PPP that they abandoned the PPP in favor of the AFC.  On the campaign trail, the AFC pointed out in the Indian villages that the PPP neglected them in favor of PNC supporters.  Many Indians felt they were neglected and viewed the PNC supporters as being primary beneficiaries of PPP rule and they decided to punish their party last year and reward the AFC.
The PPP is responsible for gross blunders in Guyana and the party should be criticized.  But to not give it credit for the restoration of democracy is perpetuating a falsehood not dissimilar from acknowledging the many historic contributions Indians also made to the country.
Vishnu Bisram

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