Bisram more Democratic than Maxwell

Sep 22, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
In a response (KN Sep 16) to my NACTA poll (published in KN Sep 15), Maxwell called me all kinds of names which are not worthy of a response. I am surprised that Maxwell engages in such gutter-like comments. He is quickly replacing Freddie as the laughing stock of basal guttural utterances unworthy of a man of his intellect.
I will not respond to the name calling but to one accusation stating that I “defend undemocratic (electoral) practices”. On the contrary, I have historically stood on the side of free and fair elections at all levels in every society. I spent most of my life fighting electoral riggings in Guyana that eventually led to the PNC caving in to demands from the international community to allow Guyanese to choose their own government rather than for Burnham, Hoyte, Reid, and Green to choose the government for the people. And I also joined friends in struggles against electoral frauds elsewhere including Zimbabwe , Haiti , Trinidad, Central America , Philippines etc .
I have no evidence that there was fraud at the PPP August 2013 Congress and if there was fraud it must be condemned. No evidence was presented to me. Maxwell claims he has evidence; he should take it to the authorities to nullify the vote. Evidence of fraud at PNC Congress was public knowledge.
Maxwell and I take opposing positions on elections. He is okay with rigging in the PNC and manipulation of voting within the AFC but is against manipulation of voting at PPP Congress. My position is all elections, including party election, must be fully democratic and open to the entire population.
Party leaders, executives, etc. must not be chosen by delegates. And if there are going to be delegates, there must be open, democratic votes by communities to choose the delegates representing their communities. In my response to Maxwell (KN Sep 11), I clearly laid out my position that all parties should hold elections among all its members to choose executives and also have primaries to nominate candidates for parliament and local governments. Voting must be based on a principle of one person one vote thereby reducing (if not completely eliminating) prospect of any kind of electoral manipulation.
In America, political parties are not private clubs but public institutions open to all regardless of ethnicity. No one (eligible citizen) can be denied membership in a political party and no one can be denied an opportunity to seek a party position or run for electoral office as a candidate for a party.
We need that kind of democratic system in Guyana – not limited democracy as Maxwell advocates for the AFC and PNC. I should have the right to join the PNC and be able to contest for leadership against Granger and have every member be given the right to vote for or against me. Similarly, Maxwell should have the right to join the PPP and contest for leadership against Ramotar with the PPP members or supporters, not delegates, deciding who they prefer.
Equally so, Dr. Ravi should be allowed to join the AFC and contest for leadership against Ramjattan and let all the members decide who is a better leader. Why should we accept a political leadership arrangement among a handful of individuals – that is corrupt machine politics. Maxwell suggests that we should wait some years before AFC opens up its leadership elections to full participation by delegates – not all its members but delegates.
Why should we wait for democracy to take a foothold in the AFC? Let it happen now! And why should only delegates have the right to vote? Let all the members vote! In Trinidad , the three parties have agreed to give their members the right to choose executives (including leader) although they are yet to reform the process to allow members to choose candidates for office. Empower the membership and supporters of parties in all aspects of the electoral process as is done in America ! If we are true democrats, let the people choose.
Guyanese Americans are granted full rights to join parties and run for leadership in America . Why should the same not happen in their own country? Maxwell should endorse my position that PPP, PNC, AFC and other parties empower their members and supporters.
Clearly, when one examines positions on democracy, Vishnu Bisram has more democratic credentials than Maxwell.
Vishnu Bisram

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