There should be no more “winner takes all” situations

Aug 10, 2020 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
The relief is palpable now that Granger and his diabolical clique, with their perfidious behaviour, are out of power, having needlessly and unsuccessfully, utilized some partisan members of the Guyana judiciary, who demeaned themselves (34+32=65) thereby allowing APNU to remain in power long after they should have vacated office in March 2019. APNU’s behaviour was both puerile and crass. Burnham rigged the elections before polling day. APNU tried a new method, which was glaringly amateur. The fog has now lifted and the PPP Civic has quite a task ahead. Dr. Ali would not have been my first choice for the PPP presidential candidacy but ultimately, he was successful so let’s give him a chance (I think that Ralph Ramkarran would have been an excellent president). The PPP, like most governments the world over, have in the past shown corruptive inclinations. This is both a moral and criminal issue and must not be tolerated again.
Granger/APNU again brought shame on this country, replicating the Burnham years. However, despite Granger’s recent threats over prospective dismissal of APNU political appointees, I am of the opinion that he was, and is still being coerced and unduly pressured by three senior individuals in the party, to engage in pernicious breaching of democratic norms. I believe he is capable of being part of Guyana’s future in a major role. He was the best of the PNC presidents and the least racist. Unlike Desmond Hoyte, he would have been more tolerant of being defeated by a female who was Caucasian. Granger contained his supporters in the PPP/CIVIC victory of 2015 and in the current elections and he was willing to concede when the no-confidence vote was passed in 2018 until, of course, the extremists intervened. I do not think he is a bad person, though there should be no full exculpation.
Ramjattan and Nagamottoo should be allowed to ride into the sunset and to never look back. There should be no vindictiveness, sententious behaviour or malice against the former Granger administration except where fraud and treason or other criminal acts were perpetrated in which case these individuals should be tried and to suffer the full penalty if found guilty. In this regard, Dr. Jagan failed, in 1992, to have PNC members tried for criminal acts while they were in power from 1966.
We can now elicit from and reflect on the commentaries, opinions and events since the March 2020 elections. There are two persons who stand out for their fearless defence of free and fair elections: Anand Persaud of the Stabroek news and Freddie Kissoon of the Kaieteur News. On the other hand, we discovered the real David Hinds. I had a lot of faith in him previously but this all dissipated since his first commentary (or lack of) on the elections. He is either in denial or is racist. Soon, he will revert to hurling venom and invective against the PPP/Civic government. The WPA has disappeared (or have totally blended in with the PNC) and have betrayed Dr. Rodney, who, after Dr. Jagan, would have been my choice for President (regardless of which party he would have led) had he survived the assassination. There is a lot of talk of a national unity government. It is my sincere hope that this comes about eventually. There should be no more “winner takes all” situations and we should pursue a teleocratic type government for the benefit of the Guyanese people. Now is not the time, however. APNU/PNC needs time to reflect, cleanse, rehabilitate and take some penitential excursions. Thereafter after a reasonable time (maybe a year), after they apologize to the country for their behaviour), there should be a unity government in Guyana. Sadly, the PNC formation in 1953, congenitally, heightened race relations in Guyana. Historically, from slavery to now, Afro –Guyanese have suffered more than any other ethnic component of the Guyana population. It is a monumental injustice. Burnham did not help them during his treacherous rule. The PPP should have done far more for them. We have to determine, understand and act on the deep grievances of the Afro-Guyanese population. The first act of the new government should be to discuss with any viable, representative organisations of the Afro Guyanese, allotment of land for their use. This should not be a token but a substantive land transfer. In addition, the President should, initially, look to other civic bodies for fair-minded persons to be part of the government in substantive roles. The Bar Association would be a good starting point. However, the government should be looking at more grass roots organisations for input and representation, not only professional organisations or other political parties .
Joe Singh was the most honourable GEC chairman since 1992 and the new government should solicit his counsel and advice with regards to new elections protocol and voting modulations.
Jiwan Singh

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