Those who are doing the ignoble bidding of their political masters

Jul 25, 2019 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

I have been following quite closely the different views that have emerged since the ruling and subsequent orders by the CCJ. Quite a few persons have expressed what I consider as reasonable views but then, unfortunately, they are sadly the odd few who have taken outlandish views to unprecedented levels. In that process, they have descended to unfortunate levels and have eroded their credibility.
This grouping which, I recognise, as self-identified champions of democracy; upholders of the rule of law, and fighters on behalf of the oppressed and exploited have today sold themselves for a few pieces silver and have become obvious agents doing the ignoble bidding of their political masters. These now-former honourable individuals, who hold themselves out as leaders, are apparently hell bent on a campaign of misinformation, undoubtedly, to safeguard their cushy perks and posts. For me, this is particularly disheartening as some in this grouping were very much involved in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in our country. It is particularly hard for me to imagine that these so-called comrades have today apparently sold-out their once cherished principles and ideals. Well, they have, in that betrayed what they once stood for and, astonishingly, have joined in perpetuating actions they previously railed against. I wonder how they can really be taken at face value.
Swinging from one rickety limb to another, they have launched, more recently, an unconvincing defence of the just commenced house-to-house (h2h) exercise. True to their new form, they have expressed critical views of those calling for a boycott of the exercise as they seek to justify the h2h alongside calls for a credible elections process. I am sure right-thinking Guyanese are desirous of a credible, free and fair elections process. This is an achievement that our people won out of struggle. But the misguided few want to have their cake and eat it too as they seek to promote electoral credibility to suit the whim and fancies.
While they seek to embellish a situation, democracy, constitutional respect and our people’s franchise are literally held hostage and judicial rule has become a mocking stock in the eyes of those in high positions. The shedding of crocodile tears does not wish away the h2h is a product of the ‘unfit-and-improper’ Chairman of GECOM. Nor does the wailing erase that the Chief Elections Officer himself publicly said that h2h is not necessary as the current list is more than suitable.
I see too the lamentations over Government’s “caretaker” status. It is laughable to see statements that CCJ-deemed caretaker government must retain its full array of powers. Arguments have been proffered to say there is really not any difference in the current status of the Administration. In the real world, this is just being disingenuous as one could possibly be but then it seems we have those among us living in wonderland. If this were really the case, the CCJ needed not label the Administration with the caretaker status. I am disturbed, yet amazed, to see how far the new minions are willing to bend over to defend their masters. It seems they have no backbone whatsoever and they have become puppets whose strings are pulled by their handlers with impunity. Of course, President Granger himself has thrown a wet towel on the matter and has recognised his Government has lost a full mandate to govern as he wishes.
I recognise too the almost consistent calls for dialogue between the main forces. I must admit on the surface this seems to be the right approach. But it is wisely said once bitten, twice shy. Clearly, the Coalition Administration is apparently showing no intention to engage in meaningful, good-faith discussions. The immediate aftermath of the NCM vote saw expressions to engage in meaningful dialogue. The hope and optimism that sprung up were scuttled by the bad-faith actions of the Administration. Certainly, had there really been a commitment to sincere interactions, we would not have found ourselves seven (7) months after the NCM without an election. Undoubtedly, the matter of the GECOM Chairman would have been settled. The imputing of tangential conditions, at best, would have never risen to the fore and bellowed calls for h2h would have been abandoned. In fact, the approach to the Courts for adjudication would have never entered the fray. While certainly attempts have been made to engage in dialogue, reasonableness on one side has been lacking and every attempt has been made to stall and procrastinate. One would have felt that following the CCJ’s ruling and orders the ploys would have ended but it appears that the plot is merely thickening.
Similarly, the calls for the Government to act unfettered after losing the NCM belies the notion of the NCM in the first place. If that were the intentions of the framers of the Constitution, wouldn’t it have been prudent to just not have recourse to an NCM in the first place? The mere fact that the NCM was inserted says that a loss meant it could not be business-as-usual, as the current grouping seems to practice. Then, too, there are the calls for a return to the National Assembly to extend the current life of the Administration. I wonder how such a suggestion can be really realised when all attempts at being reasonable have failed to begin with and previous commitments, some of which were recorded for posterity, have been thrown to the wayside without explanation or justification.
It is clear that there are those wolves among the sheep who will unashamedly seek to defend a situation that is indefensible. They, in my mind, are equally, if not more, guilty than those who seek to perpetuate the current situation in our country and in which our people have found themselves in today. These individuals who themselves should know better and do better while offering crucial and critical leadership are today no longer practising what they preach. Principles, consciousness and conscientiousness have departed their psyche and nowadays blind loyalty and unabashed support to preserve the status-quo are now blindly in charge.

Yours faithfully
Liebert Alleyne

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