RISE could very well win the presidency in 2020

Jul 09, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am a retired public servant. My final stint as a public servant ended a long time ago one Saturday morning at Hope Estate. I still admire President Burnham but my experience at Hope Estate told me that Mr. Burnham meant well but could put elegant shape to his dreams. If I have to rate Mr. Burnham with other presidents, I would put him above all others.
One of the persons I admire in Guyana is Freddie Kissoon and though I am an admirer of President Burnham I think many of the critical expressions on him by Freddie I accept. I think Mr. Burnham thought that he was so far above others in thinking (and he was) that he allowed a style of personalised power to interfere with his vision. This went from bad to worse. I saw this myself. But he was a nationalist par excellence.
Today, I see others in control of Mr. Burnham’s party and I am distraught. When I read about the formation of the new group RISE, I knew it had to happen. People were anticipating it since the AFC lost steam and the criticism of Mr. Granger’s leadership kept growing. It was interesting how the many leaders of RISE shaped their answers when asked about becoming a political party. They all left the door open. It is just a matter of time; RISE will test the political waters.
I want RISE to become a political party. We need a long break from our traditional politics. I keep asking myself why aren’t we throwing up something that is different. I think Freddie Kissoon is different but from looking at what he is, he doesn’t seem inclined to election politics. Can RISE be that something? I hope it is and I have a few suggestions.
My suggestions are based on the acceptance that it will be a political party. RISE must rally strong support in and out of Guyana for our constitution to change to allow for the coalition of parties. If not, one of the two parties will form the government albeit from a minority position as what happened to Mr. Ramotar in 2011. RISE then can only have parliamentary influence but no say in government. RISE will get seats to deny one of the two big parties a majority but does it want to be just a third political party in parliament using its seats to influence government from outside?
This would not be a wise course for a new grouping. What can happen is that if RISE proves to be an irritant in Parliament, the PPP or the APNU/AFC can call a snap poll in 2022 blaming RISE for the stalemate that led to the new elections. It is a huge gamble because RISE can see a decrease in its seats.
It is imperative then that the next year must be spent on bringing pressure for a simple two third majority vote to allow post coalition government after election rather than pre-election coalition which the AFC had to do much to its very existence. Is there any reason for the PPP and the APNU/AFC not to vote for a change of that article in the constitution?
They should because the inevitable will play out. With RISE as a contestant in 2020, we will have minority government. Both the PPP and the PNC can therefore approach RISE to seek parliamentary majority. I am not one of those persons who believe the PPP cannot win a minority presidency. For this reason APNU/AFC should think carefully about that change. It can favour the APNU/AFC after the election because I doubt RISE will want to join up with the PPP.
My second suggestion to RISE is to look back at our two founding fathers Burnham and Jagan. They were great nationalists that struck a balance between government for the rich and government for the poor. This is where Mr. Burnham excelled. He had his faults but his overall thinking was to bring people out of poverty. I do not see the present PNC moving in the direction of Forbes Burnham. I may not be a political analyst but I am simply confused as to what Mr. Granger wants and what he is doing.
My final suggestion to RISE is to try to rise to the occasion by thinking beyond the possible. It should feel it has a chance just like the big two to win the presidency on its own even though it will be a minority one. It can do this if it has the right personnel and strategies. It needs to bring on board people that the Guyanese people trust and respect and admire. And most importantly do not have baggage. Freddie Kissoon comes to mind. Can he be talked into it? If not what, about Nigel Hughes, Supriya Singh, Janet Bulkan, Christopher Ram, Roysdale Forde? I wish RISE continued success.
Stanley Seymour

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RISE could very well win the presidency in 2020

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