A mindset is a stupendous thing.

Oct 06, 2019 Letters

Dear Editor,

A letter by one Ferlin A Pedro, “Overcoming Guyana’s many challenges requires collective will that surpasses short-term political goals”, in KN September 28th is a clinical analysis of our political shortcomings. Nevertheless! The recommendation proposed by Pedro will never be endorsed by any politicians on either side of the political divide.
None of the politicians of the two behemoths (APNU/AFC or PPP) will ever concede that Ferlin is, or could be right to suggest that,” the polity needs more than ever an education about why politics should matter—a political education.” While professing the importance of our democratic values whilst being on the receiving end of the stick (opposition), neither of the behemoths, having attained political power, had ever or will ever give a thought to introduce “a political education” in secondary schools. To the behemoths, that would be conflict of interest. To them, the fact that Governments should be subservient to the people should remain shady public information to the masses. It suits them best that the average voter should be content and feel secure that their “kith and kin” is in power. Exploitation of racism!
Ferlin mentioned a popular phrase used by the Governing parties at election campaigns; “we must ensure they do not get back power” and described it as “one of many examples of people organizing themselves to support authoritarian rule.”This is so truthful! The two major parties are in parlance, basically playing their presumed support bases.
Ferlin opined that to “restore faith in democracy while ensuring positive ethnic relations,” “a cultural shift needs to occur in politics. By this, I mean our understanding of how politics works in Guyana should be challenged and undermined where necessary.” Who will bell the cat in this direction? To challenge and undermine the political system is easier said than done, the racial mindset of the two major ethnic groups is more conducive to purporting, rather than challenging and undermine the political system.
Having a mindset is a stupendous thing! A huge percentage of Afro Guyanese is prepared to sacrifice two out of three meals per day just to have an Afro Guyanese as president and the old guard- the PNC in power. These said people are swift to accuse Indo Guyanese of voting race. They are good at seeing the mote in their brother’s eye and not their own! Unlike their Afro counterpart! Indo Guyanses are not that tolerant to watch their Indo politicians reaping life bounties while they suffer. Indians were not dubbed ” crabs in a barrel” for no apparent reason, they crave the material goodies of life and are prepared to struggle for same- even if it meant taking down their own kind. The die hard supporters of the PPP (Indo.Guyanese) attribute their support for the PPP to their opinion that they and the Country as a whole had made more progress, economically, under the PPP. There is evidence to support that claim, but, put an Afro Guyanese as the presidential candidate for the PPP and the fallout in support for that party would be great amongst them. This holds for the PNC with an Indian candidate for president too. Both factions are guilty of racial sentiment
The “cultural shift” in politics as suggested by Ferlin will remain an illusion. A” cultural shift” can only be brought about by constitutional reform with emphasis on breaking the list system and let true elected representatives of the people be the driving force in parliament.
The current British high commissioner was correct when he said that ” CR will only happen if the people wants it”. With the current mindset on both sides of the political spectrum, the people will not “want it” in the foreseeable future.
Yours respectfully
Rudolph Singh

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