Lennox Shuman was refreshing

Oct 07, 2019 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
The diaspora was most impressed with a speech given by The Liberty and Justice Party leader Lennox Shuman who came to New York on Saturday and met with the diaspora in Queens and Brooklyn. He recognised that Queens is Indo-Guyanese and Brooklyn is Afro-Guyanese and pointed out this fact that the racial division in the home country is transplanted in the diaspora. Shuman noted that the Amerindians are the only group that doesn’t vote race and that don’t migrate (in mass numbers) abroad. They are also the most marginalised and neglected community abroad and has the highest percentage of poverty rate in the country if not all of the Americas. Politicians come among them with gifts for votes and don’t return till the next election cycle.
Shuman was given a cordial welcome at both meetings, something very unusual given ethnic politicking in Guyana and America.  Africans were not pleased that an Amerindian party leader was brought into their communities to fish for support; a few PPP supporters also queried why Indians were involved in organizing the talk by Shuman.  They fear a split in votes from their party.
The attendance was small at both meets, slightly more in Queens than in Brooklyn. But the attendees seemed “unaligned” — disappointed AFC-ites, former PPP-ites, and disgruntled PNCites. Those who thought despondent AFCites are returning to the base, better think again. It was an impromptu meeting. A small amount of funds was raised at both meetings – four times more in Queens than in Brooklyn.
This was the first time I heard Mr. Shuman given a live political speech. His remarks and body language, pitch and delivery were all good and have the hallmarks of a decent politician. Shuman was praised as a man of integrity and decency and someone who could be trusted as a third force unlike those who betrayed their followers. Shuman was refreshing. I like his plan to make politicians and government accountable and to empower the population to put away rascals whose only purpose in seeking office is self enrichment. He showed a compassionate streak about him and he seems people oriented rather than self-centered or egoistic.
Shuman was very articulate, well spoken, direct, forceful, clear, concise, sharp, grammatically correct, coherent, balanced, versatile, quick-witted, and eloquent in his remarks. Unlike some other politicians, Shuman seemed learned and knowledgeable on domestic issues and global politics. It seemed to me that Shuman had a very sound educational background and as someone who read a lot because he was familiar with economics and political terms. He also displayed background knowledge in sociology (race relations) and anthropology of Amerindian communities. And he is well versed in Guyana’s history and geography.  And Shuman has an attractive voice making you want to listen to him unlike some politicians whose voice you would prefer not to hear – boring lacking style and substance and a turn off.
Shuman was so different from other Guyanese politicians who I heard in Guyana and in the diaspora. He did not say what people wanted to hear to fool them as career politicians do. But he spoke from the heart. He described the most critical problems in the country and suggested solutions. He did not bury the race problem under the carpet as politicians from both major parties do. Racism and corruption are the two elephants (biggest problems) that he feels are holding back Guyana’s development. Unlike other politicians who tend to avoid addressing these two intractable problems, Shuman addressed them head on. And he charged both major parties of playing the race card and condoning corruption and of violating the constitution. If given a chance, he will stamp out corruption and take measures to end race politics. He will adhere to the tenets of the constitution. And he supports major constitutional reform and the restoration of a national carrier that served the interests of the country. Right now, he said the two airlines are leeching Guyanese as the government stands by and do nothing about it.
He talked about the problems facing indigenous communities explaining how marginalised and neglected they are, and he offered some ideas how to tackle this problem – building cheap accessible infrastructure to link the hinterland with the coast and creating jobs for them. He also noted that Amerindians and East Indians have the highest poverty rate in Guyana with East Indians constituting the largest number of Guyanese living below the poverty line. He said the government should not have closed the sugar estates until there were alternative jobs for those who would be unemployed. He also chastised the PPP for not taking measures to modernise Guysuco and or adopting creative measures to save the industry. He said PPP should have granted sugar estate land to the sugar workers to engage in agro industries. He supports land reforms to help former sugar workers get into agro industries. He feels the private sector should be empowered to address major problems facing the country. He also said that government has no business in running businesses. Government should facilitate business (with appropriate infrastructure) and not compete with business or get into business. He suggested ideas of employment creation and on enabling the poorer classes to own their (small) businesses.
Shuman gave a lot of food for thought of why Guyanese should vote for him. He describes himself and his party as a true balance of power unlike another one. And he has committed that he will never betray voters unlike another party that promised to be a balance of power force but betrayed those who supported it.
It was one of the finest meetings I attended. As someone pointed out, at no time were there scuffles or arguments in the room unlike when other parties held political meetings. Shuman listened to all views and respected all opinions. He answered all questions. He censored or silenced no one. No one was thrown out. (No one challenge anyone to a fight as happened at a meeting earlier this year when it was reported that someone sitting at the dais who was criticized for his poor performance at managing a state enterprise challenged a questioner to a fistfight outside the hall). The audience was allowed to engage Shuman. There was a give and take. The audience was impressed with his presentation and calm attitude with some pointing out that he is not the typical run of the mill politician who seeks to deceive listeners. Some in the audience like his plan for Guyana and like the idea of his party or other minor parties denying the two major behemoths a majority in parliament. They like the idea of minor parties serving as a balance of power and expressed their disappointment that AFC has betrayed the spirit of the idea of a balance of power party. They describe Shuman as humble, confident, intelligent, charming and charismatic. He was fluent, emphatic, coherent, balanced, inspiring, persuasive. And he was courageous. The LJP leader impressed his Queens audience so much that they invite Shuman to return to New York for a follow up exchange and some commit to raising funds for him.

Yours faithfully,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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