Jagdeo is playing the race card

Nov 09, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
Power has been an intoxicant for many politicians; particularly those who have been leaders. I have always posited that power in itself is not a bad thing, but that those who have its reins ought to be mindful as to its uses, particularly its red line boundaries that should not be crossed.
Unfortunately, history is replete with leaders who misused power for all manner of selfish ends, and destructive purposes. The latter ranged from suppressive laws aimed against perceived enemies; imprisonment of rivals, and their elimination and, of course, turning their particular state’s treasury into their personal bank account.
Specifically, for the purpose of this letter, I aim to highlight, the dangerous aspect of the obsession of this dizzy quantum, as it relates to the holder.
Bharrat Jagdeo’s People’s Progressive Party/Civic(PPP/C), lost the May 2015 polls, because of a peoples’ decision. Never mind, its narrowness – The PPP/C lost.
From that moment, until now, the nation has continued to observe this former President, hell bent on reclaiming power, even if it means the destruction of this nation.
The cunning pattern is clear to discern: Apart from constantly attacking the government about its stewardship, and attempting to justify his criticisms with a plethora of half-truths and lies while trying to sanitise his sordid record of misappropriation and mismanagement of government finances, death squads, narco-militarisation, economic genocide in the African community- he plays the race card.
A most shameful tactic, and dangerous, too, since he ought to be aware as to the seriously tragic experiences of the 1960s.
How can this politician risk the material well-being of the Guyanese nation and its people on his personal altar of selfishness?
I am of the firm conviction that any political leader that leads the government in a racially polarized country, such as Guyana is, should devote good time and energy towards the goal of national unity.
He/she must utilise the power that his office bestows, for the common good. No matter, how great the temptation of furthering divisions for the sinister reason of ethnic dominance – the better political goal of unity must never be shunted aside.
History will show, that Jagdeo had what I would describe as perhaps the best opportunity, of all our national leaders, to turn the turbulent tide of race history of this nation, to a much safer shore.
It was thought that his relative youth, minus political baggage, offered a new light to governance issues at the time. However, the series of meetings that himself and the then leader of the Peoples National Congress/Reform(PNC/R), Desmond Hoyte held regarding pivotal national issues, revealed a president, who made agreements with the Leader of the then political opposition, but returned for further discussions with a quite different understanding. We all should recall what ensued.
Hoyte subsequently died, and Jagdeo went on to solidify his rule and grip on power. It does not need a political scientist to understand this man’s obsession with power –he removed his government from its political party base, and thereafter went on a rampage, much to the dismay of PPP/C members.
But he played the race card cleverly, as he systematically, along with his willing cohorts, perpetuated a system of governance that defined racism in Guyana. We only have to recall the shameful statement of Roger Luncheon, as he tried to defend the reasons for not having Afro-Guyanese Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
The state medical system from post-1992 to not so long ago, evidenced every department headed by an Indo-Guyanese. Then there was the even more disgraceful instance of virtually all the post-graduate scholarships, being given to Indo- Guyanese doctors.
These were mostly from the first intake of medical students, into the new millennium. As a result of this willful discrimination, many eligible and capable Afro-Guyanese doctors migrated to the Caribbean Islands and North America.
These and other glaring acts, became the ugly face of PPP/C racism in this country. And Editor, it still exists, so entrenched it has become.
I applaud, President David Granger’s realisation that another opportunity had arrived in 2015, for discussions on nation unity. We all remembered Jagdeo’s response. It was a clear rejection, since for him, power means the right to divide and dominate.
Thus, for Jagdeo, power was used to solidify racism in Guyana, rather than attempt to bridge the divide. Not the “DEVIDE!”
Respectfully yours
Earl Hamilton

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