We are aware of the past, but we want a future

Apr 28, 2015 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I refer to some of the statements made in Ms. Ryhaan Shah’s letter in the April 25, 2015 edition of Stabroek News, “Only in Guyana could senior politicians posit that putting aside the past is the best way forward.” Ms. Shaw states that she will “further question the coalition on its campaign strategy of forgetting history”.
By now, those of us old enough to vote, but young enough not to remember a pre-1992 Guyana, expect to be continuously bombarded with it during election season. It can probably be deemed the most powerful weapon in the government’s limited arsenal. The past is routinely used by the PPP to instill fear, distrust and division. Its campaign strategy seems to consist majorly of race-baiting, irrational fear-mongering, lies and hypocrisy. Sadly, the fact that these things have been effective certainly goes without question.
The past is relevant. I do not believe we can, or should, simply forget the past, but I do believe that we can use the past to learn; and the most important lesson that we can learn from our political past is this: if a government fails its people, it deserves to be voted out. Simple.
Ms. Shaw, in a previous letter has spoken of cronyism, bullyism and racism under the PNC. She speaks as if these things are lost in some bygone era, but these are things we are confronted with presently, under a PPP government. We can add to that blatant corruption, nepotism, lack of transparency and accountability, violence, intimidation and personal excess.
These are not things we have to read about in history books, or newspaper archives or extract from the memories of our elders; these are things we can experience for ourselves. Now. Today.
Has Ms. Shaw been keeping abreast of our current affairs? Does she thoroughly read the newspapers or does she use them solely for publishing thinly-veiled letters of support for the government and contempt for those who would criticize them?
These things are all unacceptable at any point in time, under any government administration.
Ms. Shaw also labels a political ad featuring Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates of the APNU-AFC coalition as a “gimmick”, due to their use of a photograph and quote of the United States President Barack Obama. Would she label as “coincidence” a television ad by President Ramotar which begins by quoting the US President’s own ad verbatim, “In the next four months..?” The ad also labours to mirror President Obama’s dress and background setting. Such effort is taken to mimic the President, you almost expect Michelle Obama to stroll across the screen.
Ms. Shaw goes on to express that Messrs David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo, ”can never be Obama’s equals. They have neither the integrity nor dignity.” Even when you have to grasp for equality straws though, there’s little dignity or integrity to be found in copying someone else’s campaign material to a T.
Finally, I do agree with Ms. Shaw regarding the principles of Northern Ireland’s Healing Through Remembering. Respect, diversity of opinion, willingness to engage and inclusivity are principles that would be very relevant to Guyana’s own situation with past conflict. Unfortunately, I have seen only the eagerness of our government to use the past as a tool for division, rather than an instrument of reconciliation.
This government insists on placing the past squarely in front of us, yet chooses not to examine it and see how far the current government has strayed from the ideals and vision of the party’s founding father, Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Instead, the past is only used by the PPP/C to distract us from the present, but we don’t want to remain in either.
We want a future.
Essejae

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