Entities like AFC and WPA will hang on to larger parties

May 12, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,

A reply to my letter in SN 18th April 2016, “Burnham’s Revolutionary Ideas had the Country Buzzing;” has generated its own buzzing of a sort. According to one writer the (intellectual Black people, my words) in the WPA who were fighting Mr Burnham down, were only trying to point him in the direction of great Caribbean thinkers like Franz Fanon, and C L R James. For good measure I would throw in another name of that era John Paul Sartre, to make a good trifecta.
Now based upon what the writer wrote, one would assume and correctly so, that the brilliant minds in the WPA were au-fait with all the knowledge of the aforementioned great Caribbean thinkers. Hence the reason why they thought it imperative to introduce Mr Burnham to them or them to Mr Burnham. But what we must not forget is that none of these great Caribbean thinkers ever ran a country.
Now, just a question, what did these brilliant black thinkers do after the death of their champion? Seeing that they were all indoctrinated by the classic writings of these Caribbean thinkers, what did they do? Surely their leader would have involved his lieutenants in the type of government he envisaged when he took over, and the methodology of doing same. The liberator he was surely would have done that. So what happened? Did they forget the script? The intellectuals had seven years to show the people of this country why they were attacking Burnham, who at that time was trying to mold a country under enormous constraints both internal and external.
Seven years the intellectuals had to build a case against Hoyte’s laissez-fair. Back to colonial era government, (which they obviously liked) and the PPP/C divisive politics. So what happened? With all that capital they failed to penetrate. Pass electoral results show how enticing they were to the electorate. One of the intellectual leaders, (who opposed Mr Burnham) speaking at an anniversary in Grenada recently said; “ the Caribbean has stood still in developmental terms because our Governments have avoided revolutionary changes.”
This is the problem that I have with these intellectuals who allow their ambition to blind them. With revolutionary changes staring him and his cohorts in their faces right here, they preferred to look away because Burnham’s intransigence was overbearing. He ignored the political economy, he “dissed,” these competing groups who were stumbling all over each other in fighting for scarce resources, power and an entitlement to direct or make policy. He wanted all consuming power; that was his Achilles heel.
I doubt that anyone would be surprised to know that to these Caribbean thinkers, Mr Burnham needed no introduction.
He surely would have known these thinkers and their works on Imperialism, Colonialism, Neo Colonialism, Third World Politics. Based upon the writings I would think that the WPA reason for wanting to introduce him was to impress upon him the need for inclusivity in all that he was espousing.  I will allow Mr Burnham to speak for himself; “ They are Guyanese and our Comrades whom and whose services we need.
They are covered by the term “all Guyanese” and are automatically involved as a group in the call to unity.” “ From Nursery to University free Education for all Guyanese.” Some thoughts from Franz Fanon; “ we know of course that the capitalist way of life is incapable of allowing us to achieve our national and universal project, better the choice of a socialist regime.” “If we want to increase the Gross National income, reduce the imports of certain USELESS, even harmful products,” “ National service can be civilian or military, but national service is essential,” The COI (on Rodney’s demise) exposed some shenanigans within the WPA, I guess these thoughts of Fanon resonate with them.” To wage war and to engage in politics are one and the same thing.” John Paul Sartre said; “It is imperative for the Third World to find a way to disengage from Europe.” C L R James, who was once put under house arrest by Dr Williams (for his ideas) in his home land of Trinidad and Tobago said, “What do they know of Cricket who only Cricket knows.”
Are these the most profound nationalistic words ever to be uttered by a West Indian? Was Mr Burnham a nationalist? Finally I would like to point out that I know that the PNC has a political constituency, and also the PPP/C, is there a political constituency for the WPA and the AFC and if so, where is it located? Political Scientist Maurice Dureryer, has classified political parties like the WPA and AFC as cadre political parties meaning “parties with hardly any pull and few members who cling to larger and more well known parties.” Their member leadership knows quite well that they will never win an election to form a national government. This knowledge however does not deter the intellectual; their personal ambition is to become a member of parliament in any type of Government.
Milton Bruce

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