Here’s the problem with the APNU-AFC leadership

Apr 29, 2016 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

Ruel Johnson in writing about the need for the Chronicle to be independent of political directives wrote, “The primary reality is that the government (Coalition) from the inception had a general communication crisis on its hands, partly due to the general paucity of communication skills in Guyana, partly because of the poor infrastructure left in place by its predecessor, and partly due to the challenges of cohesion that necessarily plague such a new coalition.”
While those factors are valid, I think Ruel made a seminal omission – the nature of our politicians. They have not been brought up in a culture where power exists to serve. The nature of colonial rule has permanently damaged the psyche of Guyanese politicians.
This is why I think Hamza Alavi’s phenomenal theory of the “Over-Developed State” is necessary for the Guyanese people to read and internalize. Guyanese politicians have inculcated an understanding of power whereby it is to be used to rule, to reign, not to serve.
If as Ruel contends, they lack communication skills, it is because obsession with power kills the potential to acquire those skills. Our political masters do not accept that they need those skills, because people with power don’t need such skills. Such an endowment, they feel, is for their subordinates and their underlings. The fear I have of power in 2016 is that for 23 years, beginning with the assumption to power of the PPP in 1992, the current occupiers of political office are not prepared to learn from the mistakes of the PPP.
PPP leaders are deeply ashamed to write about how they lost their way. They feel that if they open up about the arrogance of power during their reign, it may affect their credibility and discourage incoming support. One will never find straightforward acknowledgement in the frequent letters in the newspapers, press conferences and media interviews of PPP leaders of the horrible attitudes that prevailed among them.
Looking back at their time in power, the PPP leaders must know that Rohee, Charles Ramson Senior, Nirmal Rekha, Bibi Shadick, Kwame Mc Coy and so many others were liabilities. These people were bad publicity for the PPP. But the arrogance of power blinded the PPP. Once Ramson opened his mouth, the PPP lost support. Once Rohee opened his mouth, the PPP lost support.
We have the silly situation in which the PPP boasts that the 2015 election was too close for the APNU-AFC to boast about victory. The ballot difference was just under 5000. But has it occurred to the PPP that those 5000 voters may have been people fed up with the pomposity of a Clement Rohee, a Charles Ramson, a Bibi Shadick?
The PPP is an unhistorical party. It will not learn. It doesn’t want to learn. After losing power, it has elevated the very elements that were partly responsible for its election loss. Bibi Shadick has moved to the Elections Commission. She is not going to win any hearts with her style. It has employed Kwame McCoy at its radio station and the asininities continue. Has APNU-AFC learnt from the soulless voices and empty echoes of nonsense that characterize the years of Jagdeo/Ramotar hegemony?
Ruel Johnson speaks of lack of communication skills. Is Ruel sure about that or is that he is conscious of his ministerial advisor job? Could Ruel explain why Joe Harmon took six weeks to express regret for remarks that he has no apologies to make for the huge salary increase? Why six weeks when just a day later, Coalition supporters were banging down the Government’s door demanding an explanation?
Up to this day, Joe Harmon has not met with the press for a frank exchange with them on the multi-dimensional story of a long journey in a far off land with Baishanlin, Brian Tiwarie, and Clinton Williams. But the same Joe Harmon was in Berbice recently, chatting away with citizens and sharing out goodies. The same Joe Harmon refused to return Glenn Lall’s emails and phone calls. The same Joe Harmon refused to contact me after I left a message with his close friend, Mark Archer. I can tell you, Ruel; that is not lack of communication skills. This is how power-holders operate.
This columnist received severe complaints from day one in the life of the Coalition Government from citizens about the arrogance of Minister Keith Scott. The TUC General-Secretary, Lincoln Lewis, couldn’t take it anymore; he penned a letter against Minister Scott in both the KN and SN. Talk to your Ministers, Ruel; they have gone astray.

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Here’s the problem with the APNU-AFC leadership

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