Co-opting a few PPP officials is not power sharing – David Hinds

Nov 16, 2015 News

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– Govt. appointing PPP members to top posts would be hottest slap in the face

Every citizen, regardless of party affiliation, has a right to work, says political activist, Dr. David Hinds. But when it comes to the coalition government placing top executive members from the People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP) in certain positions, he said that the playing field changes entirely.
Should the government pursue this route, the columnist opined that it would be the “hottest slap in the face of coalition supporters.”
He made these comments on the matter, among others, on his blog www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com.
Dr. Hinds’ statements come in wake of news reports that the government is considering placing former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud and former Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul into certain top posts.
Kaieteur News understands that Gopaul, for example, is likely to head a major multi-million-dollar city project for the government. The project, estimated to be worth over US$20M, would entail the development of D’Urban Park, which once boasted a race course.
The park, overgrown with bush for years, is located east of the 1763 Monument. Government officials recently disclosed that indeed talks had been ongoing with Gopaul, but details are still being worked out. But Gopaul has since refused to admit or deny that he is involved in such discussions with the government.
In response to this, Dr. Hinds stated, “While I am still hoping that there is no merit to these reports, I have to proceed on the belief that they are being contemplated.

If the government were to make such appointments, it would represent a blunder only slightly less grievous than the ministerial salary hikes.”
In this instance, the University Professor said that it is not a case of simply finding work for citizens; these would be deliberate political appointments. He stated that the jobs which were cited in the press do not require any particular set of skills on which the two former Ministers have a monopoly. Hinds said that the government will have to explain how such appointments fit into its larger political strategy.
The political activist noted however that one gets the impression that there is no well thought-out political strategy or direction where the coalition government is concerned.
He said, “This government came to power as part of a transformational spirit that invariably infected a large section of our society. After more than two decades of backward governance, the appetite for something new and forward-thinking in the halls of government is huge.”
The University Professor continued, “After six months at the helm, the report card for the government is mixed. Some may say, with much justification, that it is too early to judge a government. I can say that the government has done an excellent job at delivering services to the people in multiple areas.”
Dr. Hinds noted that the APNU+AFC has gone a long way towards restoring faith in government as a medium for meeting the basic common needs of the citizenry. He said however that government has not handled the larger political questions in the same manner.
He opined that no government succeeds only on effective routine administration of the bureaucracy. He said that such has to be complemented by a clear political direction that is grounded in a keen sense of where the governors want to take the society.
“In other words, what kind of society do you want to build? Do you want to continue the status quo, which you railed against, or do you want to change course? I have to admit that six months is enough time to provide proper answers to those questions. I am still waiting on the President to articulate to the country a clear political strategy and direction, and the principles that would guide them,” said the political activist.
He stated that the government made an offer of power-sharing to the PPP, which was rejected.
The political activist on that note, made the point that the PPP has no interest in sharing power with anyone; they want it all for themselves. It is for this reason, he articulated that the coalition may be tempted to believe that the next best option would be to co-opt a few PPP officials and that would pass as power-sharing.
Dr. Hinds said that the government may be hoping that the masses would see such a move in positive terms. Unfortunately, he said that is not power- sharing. He said that it simply amounts to a form of “political opportunism that yields no results for national unity.”
“The PPP tried it; they called it Inclusive Governance. A few so-called non-PPP/Civic people fell for it. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo said then that non-PPP people were welcome, but only on the PPP’s terms. In other words, we have the power and we will co-opt and use you to mask our politics of dominance. Is that what this government wants to emulate? I, for one, would have serious problems supporting such a political strategy,” Dr. Hinds shared.
He professed that he is for power-sharing with the PPP in principle, but is thoroughly opposed to any political games with PPP people.
Dr. Hinds said that this “business of buying individuals from across the aisle is demeaning, and should be discontinued.”
He said, “The other problem for the government, should it go ahead with such a move, is that it would once again put itself on a collision course with its supporters. We do not need pollsters to tell us that government supporters want the wrongs of the past government to be prosecuted.”
Dr. Hinds said that much to the frustration of its supporters, the government has been indecisive on that score. He said that this is compounded by the fact that many PPP operatives known for discriminating against poor people perceived to be supporters of the then opposition parties are still in their positions. He reiterated that to now appoint top officers of that government to top positions would be the hottest slap in the face of the coalition’s supporters.

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