New parties should see themselves as more than spoilers

Jan 20, 2019 Editorial

A New and United Guyana (ANUG), through one of its founders, has taken to the media to offer representations on the party’s positions on several issues of particular interest. They are among the issues that challenge this nation, where anything of significance rises to the level of either stalemate or crisis, and also white heat. The new parties are encouraged to publicize continuously where they stand and what they would support on more and more matters, whether impacting the major racial and social segments, or minorities lacking in vigour and reach.
To begin with, there can only be appreciation for ANUG’s position, as articulated by Mr. Timothy Jonas, on parliament, composition of state boards, ministerial monopolistic powers, and the need for adjustments and movements. This should merely be the start. The thoughtful and concerned in this society should exhort ANUG (and the others announcing similar intents) to venture boldly into stormier waters, and just as early, to stake out hard, unequivocal positions.
Among other things, these positions would highlight race contexts, governance structures, and related constitutional reforms. This has to be evidenced in unflinching and uncompromising language calling for – indeed, demanding – material reductions in the hegemony of the old-line party politics and the supremacy of racial politics, while advocating insistently the demographics of Guyana’s diversity, and the strengths that could be accrued from genuine inclusion. For such to take shape and substance, this calls for some of the main players to remove temporarily their lawyer’s hats and replacing them with human and social ones.
All new parties and their leaders must be of more than token words, symbolic postures, and cosmetic depths. There has been too much of those, so much so that they have become an inseparable part of the political skin and political odour. They must envision their individual and collective roles as more than that of icebreakers, tiebreakers, and spoilers.
While all of those would keep the regular crowd on tiptoes and looking over shoulders, there is the potential for greater influence and benefits; for even at this early stage of relative unfamiliarity, there is exhibited, even in the not-so-older ones, an old school carriage and instinct.
These could usher in a higher calibre of representation in parliament; a better prepared and more industrious legislative body; and a more qualitative verbal, written, and presented product. Stated in a more grassroots fashion: elected (not selected) men and women would have to work hard and consistently for their money, their duty-free concessions, and their prestige of place. And all the while maintaining an exemplary level of personal comportment and group decorum.
The new arrivals (if they make it to the National Assembly) must take the lead in exposing and, if necessary, humiliating the bumbling, insulting, enraging caricatures masquerading as lawmakers. That alone is value for vote. One would hope that the newcomers do not lose innocence, and allow themselves to be consumed by the ruthless political machineries dominating this land.
This is how and where the new groups can make sturdy and lasting contributions that resonate and impress. The swing vote(s) is important, if not pivotal, as circumstances warrant. But the overall ambience of the House of the People must begin to assume a degree of decency through the demeanour (forced as needs be) of ostensibly honourable members long since fallen into a Dead Sea of the degrading and dispiriting. The issues are plentiful; the controversies more abundant; and the political and racial inclinations toweringly tawdry, while tirelessly tearing this nation into tatters.
The new people may not gain the required voter traction this season; hence, there could be limited numerical inroads and presence. But there is the opportunity – faint currently in this hour of immovable passions – for feet to cross the threshold, hands to be raised, and civil voices to inject the remedial chemo that is so direly needed into process and proceedings. The Americans in their taut, compressed way call such game changers. Guyanese can settle for nutcrackers, to put things politely.

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