Do Guyanese trust their politicians?

Nov 13, 2013 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

I haven’t researched it, but I believe if a poll was taken among the adults, of the 7.1 billion people on earth, as to which profession they completely distrust, it would be politicians.
Last week, Britain’s leading comedian, Russell Brand, was anything but comical when on a leading interview show, he said that British politicians are all the same and are not to be trusted. Since then the British columnists are still debating the Brand vituperation.
One would like to believe it is the same all over the world. Hillary Clinton lost her party’s presidential nomination in 2008 to Barack Obama because in a country tired with war, her critics said that she voted for Bush’s invasion of Iraq. In other words, Clinton was just like the rest, so people chose the new guy, Barack Obama.
In Trinidad, people cannot make up their minds as to who to trust – the UNC or the PNM. Patrick Manning beat Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, resuscitating the PNM only to achieve the ignominy of being one of the worst Prime Ministers Trinidad ever saw. The voters threw out Manning and put in a woman who beat Panday for the leadership of a party Panday himself helped to found. It is doubtful that PM Kamla Persad Bissesar will win at next year’s poll.
In Guyana, the PPP has turned out to be the most immoral administration the CARICOM region has produced. With the loss of its parliamentary majority in 2011, the Guyanese people pinned their hopes and aspirations on a reinvigorated PNC (renamed APNU for the 2011 elections) and AFC with Moses Nagamootoo in the leadership. If a poll were taken today, the disenchantment with the AFC and APNU would be immense.
Guyanese feel that APNU and AFC lack passion and purpose to confront a hated government that with every passing day appears more insane in their eyes. That poll would reveal an attitude to the AFC and APNU that if asked how they would vote, a majority might say they will abstain. Mind you, it is not the lack of confrontation.
You can’t blame APNU and AFC for lack of aggression in a country where people lack even a modicum of anger. Take UG students. They are not one of, but the most sheepish university student population in the world.
What many people feel is that the combined opposition is not committed in ways that the Guyanese people want them to be. Leonard Craig in a comment on Chris Ram’s television show expressed disgust that the opposition voted for the removal of the barriers around Parliament and its members are happy for two years now to drive through those barriers without even a whisper of disgust.
You look at this kind of hypocrisy and you wonder if politicians can be trusted. I was told by police commander George Vyphuis that the Speaker of the National Assembly accepts the police explanation that the barriers must be there for security purposes. Thrice in this column I asked the Speaker to comment. He has not. The Speaker is in the executive of the AFC which voted for the removal of the cordons.
Last Thursday, Lincoln Lewis invited me to an event to honour the outgoing past president of the TUC and welcome the new one at the TUC building. I felt that I had both a political and friendship obligation to attend. But I was surprised to see some interesting national personalities who took to the speaker’s podium.
Of course there was Prime Minister Sam Hinds. He has been the Prime Minister for twenty-one years in a country where trade union rights are at their lowest since the English colonized Guyana in the 19th century. Hinds has never publicly spoken on the unjust withdrawal of the Critchlow Labour College subsidy.
Rupert Roopnaraine, deputy head of APNU, spoke of neo-liberalism in Guyana, where every day the gap widens between the rich and poor. Yet this same APNU politician votes in conformity with the PPP parliamentarians in the UG Council. Dr. Roopnaraine voted for the dismissal of the Chief Accountant without the woman being given the right to a hearing.
Speaking also was the representative of the private sector, Mr. Peter Willems. He urged Guyana to unite because we are too divided. But when he was in the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), he didn’t operate as if he was concerned about a divided Guyana. I had reason to criticize him on this page on his divisive role in the ERC. After he spoke, he came up to me and in front of Norris Witter said to me, “See Freddie, I have a voice after all.” I replied, “When it suits your purpose.”

Latest News

Do Guyanese trust their politicians?

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Seven Regional Champions to vie for direct promotion single spot in...

Kennard Memorial Turf Club expresses sincere...

Canada-based Guyanese Umpire Suresh Budhoo...

Anil Beharry Real Estate and Related Services...

Alarm in West Indies over radical two-division...

After 18 years hiatus, West Indies arrive in...

Features/Columnists

Jagdeo’s policies were a disaster

Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves

John Hess speaks, Guyanese should listen

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Do Guyanese trust their politicians?

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]