Lest we forget

Oct 09, 2016 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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In an effort to deflect from its own sordid legacy the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) has engaged in an all-out disinformation campaign to obfuscate the work of the Coalition government. Even those of us who have short memories cannot forget the continued failure by the PPP to observe the rule of law, the political interference and manipulation of the Judiciary, harassment and victimisation of all opponents, including the media, lack of tolerance for differing opinions, arrogance, vindictiveness and high-handed approach by successive PPP Presidents; the political control of the state media all of which contributed to the now well accepted assertion that the PPP was an “elected dictatorship”.
Nothing defines the PPP in government more clearly than the out of control criminal activities, which resulted from its inability to reform the security forces and to ensure that it was properly equipped and led. The cancellation of the one trillion, five hundred and sixty eight million Guyana dollars (G$1,568,000,000) security sector reform project by the British was clearly the result of bad faith on the part of the President Bharrat Jagdeo. The PPP chose to ignore the recommendations of the Simmons Report and that of the Disciplined Forces Commission. Instead of seeking legal means of bringing the crime spree between 2002 and 2005 under control, the PPP decided to hitch its star to a well-known self-confessed drug dealer, Shaheed “Roger” Khan. The facts are well known as emerged from the trial of Khan’s former lawyer, Robert Simels that the Jagdeo Administration authorised the purchase of the “spy computer” which played a significant part in a campaign of terror which resulted in the deaths of more than 200 of our citizens.
Who can forget the PPP’s neglect of public security? The fact is that the PPP during its tenure in office failed to preserve law and order. Jagdeo’s failure to quell the 10-year long ‘troubles’ and the rampant narco-trafficking and killings that were a hallmark of his Presidency are unforgivable and unforgettable. The PPP’s failure to investigate the murder of a sitting Minister of the government by itself created an environment where the value of human life was made cheap. The investigation into the conduct of PPP Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj and the party’s refusal to launch an inquiry into the deaths of hundreds of Guyanese during the ‘troubles’ are not conjecture but facts.
Any democracy worth its salt will seek support from other institutions of the society. The PPP in government rather than seeking such co-operation did its best to miniaturise and destroy many of the important institutions of our nation. The attempt to destroy the trade union movement is a relevant example. The PPP pursued this objective with a vengeance matched only by their misuse of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to go after private sector enterprises that refused to toe the political line. The unilateral cessation of the check off system for union dues from public servants for the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the abandonment of collective bargaining in violation of ILO conventions to which Guyana is a signatory are well known. The arbitrary imposition of meagre salary increases for Public Servants. The willful and malicious withholding of subventions approved by the Parliament for the Critchlow Labour College followed by the refusal to make any further allocations were indicative of the frontal attack by the PPP in pursuing its strategic objective of destroying the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) and replacing it with the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).
The lack of transparency and accountability was an established feature of the PPP in government. The PPP institutionalised cronyism, which led to well documented and serious scandals. The scandalous failure to appoint Guyanese of African origin to the Diplomatic Corp cannot be defended. The discrimination in the award of contracts to PPP ‘fat cats’ and the questionable employment practices so evident in the number of persons, including Judges of the High Court, in acting appointments was cause for genuine dissatisfaction and resentment by most Guyanese. Guyanese citizens were unaware of the criteria used for the award of such contracts, much more the names of those to whom the contracts were awarded. This unhealthy situation came about because the PPP refused to finalise the appointment of the Public Procurement Commission to ensure some degree of transparency in the award of contracts, despite a commitment given in the Communiqué of May 6, 2003 to have this constitutional body established within four months of that date. Under the Coalition government this constitutional body has been selected and will soon be sworn-in by His Excellency the President.
With all these things considered, the PPP lacks the moral authority to pontificate on issues such as lack of accountability, cronyism, corruption and public safety until genuine reform is seen among their ranks.

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