The real reason behind Jagdeo’s New York outburst

Aug 24, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Former President and now Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bharat Jagdeo found himself in a sea of controversy for remarks he made while addressing a public forum in New York, which was attended mainly, by PPPC Indian supporters.
Jagdeo at the forum had said “There’s an assault on our democracy, there’s an assault on people of Indian origin, there’s an assault on supporters of the PPP. What we thought would never return to Guyana, in just one short year has returned with full force, and even worse in some regards than the Burnham era”. These volatile statements forced the government, and a number of civil groups and individuals to condemn the former President and in the process deemed his remarks as racist.
In responding to his critics, Jagdeo was defiant. He refused to heed the calls for him to apologize. He accused his detractors of double standards. He claimed that when the PPPC was in office African Leaders and activists defended African interest and they were called Freedom Fighters. Now that he is doing the same for Indians he is deemed a racist. I contend here that the former President has a forked tongue and that he carefully selects issues on which he chooses to agitate, regardless of the consequences.
On this issue his selective memory is at work. On a number of occasions in his capacity as President he accused African Leaders and activists of racism when they spoke out against African oppression under the PPPC. Jagdeo, in trying to deceive the public by his various antics, cited Desmond Trotman, the undersigned and other comrades as examples of persons who were called Freedom Fighters for our advocacy of African causes. Let me take this opportunity to remind Jagdeo that on every occasion we had done so and in spite of the supporting evidence, we were accused of promoting racism by the government, the PPPC and their propaganda agents. The former President’s outcry against his critics of double standards, reminds me of the Guyanese saying “dosuh not like suh”.
Mr. Jagdeo, in seeking to justify his argument that he is not a racist made an equally outrageous statement to the effect that Africans in Guyana benefitted greatly from his government. This remark is not only offensive to the African community, but it is also contemptuous of this segment of the population and has the effect of” adding salt to our wounds”, since it is our collective and considered opinion that the members of the African community in Guyana, have experienced deliberate political, economic and social marginalization during the 23 years of the PPPC rule.
When we add to that the state sponsored executions of hundreds of our young men during the life of the PPPC regime, the anger and the humiliation that was experienced by the African community under Jagdeo and Ramotar, is better understood. Not one of the killers was brought to justice under any PPPC administration. And this is so in spite of the fact that the African condition and state sponsored killing in Guyana had attracted the attention of the UN Rapporteur on Race Relations who visited Guyana when the PPPC was in office.
The Opposition Leader’s assertion that the APNU+AFC collation government is assaulting Indian supporters of the PPP is ludicrous and cannot be supported by objective evidence. It is therefore not surprising that Jagdeo failed to provide any evidence in support of his contention either during his speech in New York or thereafter, in his defense against his critics.
What is the reality on the ground? In the old order the PPP, an Indian party dominated the government 100%. The few Africans in the party and government were mere window dressing since they had no real political power. In the present dispensation the situation is quite different: (1) The APNU+AFC government is a multi–party coalition, unlike the PPPC which was a one party government (2) In so far as the AFC’s political fortunes is tied to its Indian constituency, the party has 40% of the political power to address Indian interest.
It is committed to the use of this power to win over Indians from the PPP. This is necessary for its own survival, and that of the coalition government in light of the one seat majority in the parliament. Given the political reality it faces the APNU+AFC government objectively has nothing to gain politically or otherwise from engaging in assaults on Indian interest as is being claimed by the Opposition Leader. (3) It is clear that the government’s commitment to prosecute wrong doers of the previous regime is adversely affected by the political/racial realities i.e. how to separate the interests of Indian political and economic criminals from the legitimate interests of the wider Indian community and masses in the face of hostile propaganda by the opposition party playing the race card. Faced with this dilemma the incumbent regime’s actions to date are at best, tame and cannot in any way be considered aggressive, as being suggested by Mr. Jadgeo.
Jagdeo and the PPP leadership understand the political dilemma confronting the coalition government and is exploiting it to its advantage. Their logic is ruthless politics. Jagdeo and the PPPC by accusing the government of witch hunting, assaulting Indians and PPP supporters and insinuating that the government is directing attacks on Indian community interests are measures intended to keep their Indian support base in a condition of political/ethnic fear, which they are hoping will help their 2020 elections fortunes. But even more important, their strategy is intended to keep as much political/racial tension in the Indian community to use it as a political bulwark against the government prosecuting PPP wrong doers among whom are members of the PPP leadership. This is what Jagdeo’s racist and wicked statements in New York, and his bare faced defense is all about. It has nothing to do with Indians being oppressed by the present regime.
Tacuma Ogunseye

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