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When issues do not matter

Dec 03, 2017 Letters

On his recent trip to Atlanta, President David Granger had asked members of a PNC group to commit to the ideals of the party’s founder, Forbes Burnham, and to help his government win the 2020 general elections. The reason is that the euphoria that brought the coalition to power in 2015 has dwindled due largely to arrogance, indecisiveness, scandals and unfulfilled promises.
It seems that the government is confused, slow to act and is incapable to defend itself against the criticism levied against it by the opposition.
Although 2020 seems far away, winning the election is likely to be an uphill task for the coalition, given the fact that the seven parties that formed the coalition in 2015 have defeated the PPP by only 4,506 votes.
Prior to the election, many had viewed the PPP government as arrogant, corrupt, vile and abusive to its opponents. And while Mr. Granger was seen as a purist and a leader with the highest integrity and Mr. Nagamootoo was considered the most well-known politician in the country, yet the coalition won by only a one-seat in Parliament. This was clear evidence that issues never dictated elections outcome in Guyana.
Yet we are trying to make issues crucial to the 2020 elections. In government for more than two years and faced with several scandals such as the drug bond fiasco, the controversial trip to China, the huge increase in ministerial salary and the perception that some members of the cabinet are arrogant, elitist, aloof and corrupt, people opposed to the coalition are proposing that these are the things that could make it difficult for the coalition to win.
The reality is that everything boils down to the race vote. Based on the last census in 2010, the voting population of Indo-Guyanese population is 38 percent and 32 percent for Afro-Guyanese. In past elections, approximately five percent of Indo-Guyanese have voted for the PNC, which means that the percentage of PPP support would reduce to 33 percent. But an even greater percentage of Afro-Guyanese either do not vote or vote for a party other than the afro-based PNC. Roughly eight percent of Afro-Guyanese have voted for the PPP in the past.
The mixed races comprise 19 percent of the voting population. It is customary for the majority of the mixed race to vote for the APNU/AFC coalition. In this scenario, assuming that everyone votes, 13 percent of the mixed race population is expected to vote for the coalition and six percent for the PPP in 2020. There is also the Amerindian vote.
In order for the government to gain a second term, it must implement sound policies to grow the economy, create jobs, reduce poverty and be in touch with the people and not being aloof and arrogant as is currently the case.
This is being done but people tend to be blind to the everyday issues of development. The public service has grown by some 3,000 but the man in the street does not see this growth in employment.
Construction is continuing although not at the frenetic pace that was once touted. In the past, many people had house lots; today they are homeowners. And while the homes are being constructed, jobs are being created.
The people in the sugar belt are not going to support the government. In fact, those who shunned the PPP last time around may very well return. The reality is that the sugar factories that will be closed by then would not be reopened. These people would be no better off than they are today.

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