From the Diaspora…SNAP ELECTIONS? NO CONFIDENCE VOTE?

Jun 29, 2014 News

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By Ralph Seeram
“Ralph, I was a disciple of Cheddi Jagan; I loved the PPP and I worked for the PPP, but the PPP today is not the one I know,” my old friend Harry related to me. He added, “I can’t support the present PPP; too much stealing. Imagine some not yet 40 years old but they are multi millionaires by US standards.”
Harry caught up with me after some thirty years of not seeing each other. He said that he reads my columns every week, and wanted to get in touch with me. Harry and I worked together decades ago in Guyana.We went on a nostalgic trip and like most Guyanese living in the Diaspora the conversation ended with the politics of Guyana.
This week some of the political talks were about snap elections and AFC seeking the cooperation of APNU for a vote of no confidence against the government, and the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) establishing an office in Guyana.
Obviously, a vote of no confidence against the government would lead to elections. Now the question really is do the PNC/APNU, the AFC and or the PPP really want a general election. I doubt that very much; don’t hold your hopes high folks. It’s not going to happen before 2016. Every party is bluffing and trying to out bluff the other.
PNC/APNU and the AFC must have heard stories just as what my friend Harry related, PPP supporters’ dissatisfaction with the Government. The opposition must be “smelling blood” and feels that the PPP might be vulnerable; it feels that the PPP must have lost more support than in the last election.
The opposition gained its one-seat majority in Parliament because PPP supporters kept away from the polls, especially in East Berbice. Those disenchanted PPP supporters did not vote for APNU although the AFC garnered some. Question is can the AFC repeat that performance? I doubt that very much.
This leaves the PNC/APNU. Does this party think it can win enough votes to win the Presidency? And I am not talking about a 50% electorate. I doubt whether APNU can achieve that. So what would APNU gain if it will end up in the opposition benches again?
Even assuming the party merges with the AFC (that is very unlikely) can the combined efforts get them over the 50% hump? Well that is a big if. It depends solely on PPP supporters crossing over, and as I said that is unlikely.
As for the PPP, why would President Donald Ramotar relinquish his two plus years left? What has the PPP to gain by calling a snap election? At worst it may be in the same position—a minority government. So what’s the point? It will still govern, and while the opposition cuts their budget, it will spend the money anyway.
Still the PPP has grown fat and lazy, to an extent it has lost lots of support, not only of the corruption that exists, but in the daily annoyances the public experiences dealing with government agencies. The PPP Government keeps boasting about these grandiose projects like Hydro, Marriott Hotels and the new Airport, but neglects to emphasize efficiency in everyday dealings with the public.
These are too numerous to mention, but let me cite one recent glaring example. Passport seekers were recently told when they turned up at the Passport office that they have to get a new birth certificate no more than six months old. Nobody thought of informing the public six months ahead that this regulation was coming in force.
They waited to spring the surprise on the unsuspecting public that at times travel great distances to go to the passport office. Then everyone start to “pass the buck’. The incompetent Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee passed the buck on to the police.
Why must the public travel great distances for a simple thing like a passport or for that matter birth certificates?
Why can’t passport applications be received at regional police stations and sent to the main passport office for processing? Why not regional offices in each region to process birth certificates and passports? In this technological age, it’s a simple process.
Some time ago I went to the birth certificate office and was shocked to see the process is still done by hand, just as it was done 100 years ago. These are the little things that turn people off from the PPP. The things that affect their daily lives matter most to them, not the Marriott, the Hydro Falls or the New Airport or how much the economy has grown. It’s the daily hassle dealing with government agencies and their incompetence.
Some time ago I went to the offices of the power company to pay the electricity bill for a relative who was behind on her payment. At the gate the guard told me I couldn’t enter because I wore cargo shorts. Now tell me what a short pants has to do with paying a bill.
So its official the DEA is going to establish an office in Guyana. That may be a formality. Is there anyone who doubts that the DEA has been already operating in Guyana? Part of the problem is that the DEA does not trust the Guyana Police Force; too much corruption.
For those “untouchable drug barons” if they think the DEA does not have them on their radar they are mistaken. US Law Enforcement Agencies take their time to build their case. Sometimes it takes years, but when they “drop the hammer” they already have an airtight case. Ask Roger Khan.
One of the changes we will see is Guyana revising their Extradition Treaty with the US. The DEA is not going to waste their time in Guyana if they can’t get drug lords extradited to be tried in US courts. Drug lords around the world are afraid of the US courts; they can’t bribe their way there.
There are some people in Guyana who will not go near Cheddi Jagan Airport; they will not leave the shores of Guyana, but with the DEA presence in Guyana they will be making involuntary free trips to good old U S A. Don’t believe this will be restricted only to drug barons; a few politicians are worried.
Ralph Seeram can be reach at email: [email protected]

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