Latest update January 5th, 2025 2:22 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

I am voting out of tribe because I am rational

Feb 22, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Allow me to express a few words that summarise the results of a great catharsis that has occurred within me over the past year as I consider my political choices on the eve of our 50th Jubilee anniversary and the great impending election. In my opinion, both the two main parties have failed me.
I am traditionally a PPP voter and respect Jagdeo’s competence, but the politics in this country is broken. We are trapped in a winner-take-all contest driven by race politics. The PPP is criticising the failings of the APNU government’s first four years in power after their 23-year reign over the bloodiest and most corrupt period in Guyana’s post-independence history.
The fact that this APNU government has not been able to prosecute anyone significant points to two possibilities – the previous PPP government was not corrupt or members of the present government are themselves compromised and are motivated to let sleeping dogs lie.
What is pellucidly clear is that both parties are complicit in signing away the country’s oil wealth for a pittance and both are claiming ignorance and incompetence instead of corruption. As much as I want to vote PPP again, I can’t bring myself to vote for a Jagdeo third term with his preferred candidate as a front-man which I find offensive to our democracy.
The voters in Guyana are split into two camps – tribal voters and rational voters.
The tribal voters will vote tribe every election. Political choice is about having their tribe in power whether they are corrupt or incompetent. They will ignore and reason away any shortcomings of their tribe. They cannot change, for it means a change in personal identity, which is difficult for most.
The rational voters are a minority and examine the leader’s qualities, the party’s mandate, their manifesto, and determine which party they feel is worthy of their support.
The good news is the rational voters now have good and valid choices, and even one seat would have a significant influence in the running of parliament and the functioning of government.
Nearly all of the parties are led by a new generation of rational leaders who are fed up with the politics of their fathers. There are at least five new parties to choose from, all headed by persons of integrity with no shortage of good ideas. Three of them (LJP, ANUG, TNM) have created and signed the Joinders Memorandum to ensure that no vote is wasted, with mechanisms to protect against the dreaded third force curse of being coopted, corrupted and betrayed.
When I look at myself in the mirror, I cannot bring myself to keep repeating the same mistake election after election. I know that most of my countrymen are tribal and I will not blame them for it. I understand the tribal loyalties, but I feel that I must vote to save my country. I must have the courage to be rational in my choice. And in that light and choice, I want to support the LJP and its bright and courageous Indigenous leader with the kind smile, for they are a signatory to the Joinders Memorandum. The future of my children depends upon it.
Yours sincerely,
Govind Hinds PhD

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Kellman’s 3-goal brilliance inspires Sparta Boss’ title victory

Kellman’s 3-goal brilliance inspires Sparta Boss’ title victory

Jan 05, 2025

…GT Kanaimas stun Lady Royals 2-1 to lift inaugural K&S Futsal title kaieteur Sports- Exactly one month after the kickoff of the Kashif and Shanghai/One Guyana National Knockout Futsal...
Read More
Bossalina wins feature event at Rising Sun Turf Club New Year’s meet

Bossalina wins feature event at Rising Sun Turf...

Jan 05, 2025

GBBFF boss reflects on milestones and leadership transition

GBBFF boss reflects on milestones and leadership...

Jan 04, 2025

National stars shine in GCF End of Year Chess Tournament

National stars shine in GCF End of Year Chess...

Jan 04, 2025

Two more young cricketers benefit from Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”.

Two more young cricketers benefit from Project...

Jan 04, 2025

Tonight: Sparta Boss goes up against Bent Street ‘A’ for K&S National Futsal title

Tonight: Sparta Boss goes up against Bent Street...

Jan 03, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]