Guyana is a de facto one-party state

Oct 09, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Kaieteur News – More and more, it is becoming clearer that what was feared is now confirmed reality. Guyana is a de facto one-party state. There are some sights of and sounds from something working at being a meaningful opposition, but at which it fails most miserably.
These are the facts and situations, as I glean them. The Leader of the Opposition seems to lack vision, energy, and drive. He goes through the motions rather dispiritedly and aimlessly. There is neither zeal nor zest; to those I would add lack of the consummate skills to hold his own, in either offensive forays or defensive positions taken against the government. I sense a leader and group from which the ghost has been negotiated. I also detect a leader and a group all too willing to relinquish the spirit.
Specifically addressing the concerns about the Hon. Leader of the Opposition did promise defiantly and valiantly to give the government a “tough time” (Demerara Waves, August 26). Very specifically, the then newly minted Leader of the Opposition said, “I will be in the face of the PPP.” I commend Mr. Harmon for his brave words; they are powerfully devoid of supporting actions. If this is giving trouble then I would welcome such, given my own trials. I say this because if what leader and party have delivered to date is being in the face of the PPP, then it must be delirious with joy. PPP leaders must be smirking, while shrugging off the powder-puff storms that originated from the coalition and its leader, and which powdery particles the government uses to dust its nose.
The second set of realities that confirm Guyana is, for all intents and purposes, a full-fledged one-party state is evident in the mannerisms, attitudes, and words of the Hon. Vice President. On carefully selected occasions, the Vice President goes to lengths to speak darkly (and menacingly) about immensely costly depredations of the previous government. Noteworthy is that the Vice President is always alluding to and threatening, but never delivers. He prefers to hold his political captives suspended and worried. The Vice President talks of billions squandered and worse during the tenure of the coalition government. Though usually not earned because of scant regard for truth, in this instance, I believe that the government leader is on the money. It is something of which he knows much from long experience.
The Vice President is on to something significant, but before going on, I pause for a quick moment. I am compelled to identify and address the Hon. Vice President, since he is the one in charge and handling the weighty issues. I respectfully regard His Excellency’s position as that of a trophy spouse: good and convenient for display purposes, and the best hoped for with fingers crossed. Returning to the Vice President, I think that he has succeeded in doing several things when he mentions money and the many coalition failures, most likely criminality.
First, he alerts the Opposition Leader that the government is in a position to give great trouble to the opposition, and not the other way around. Second, the VP holds those troubles like the Sword of Damocles over the opposition’s head, and not content with that he ties it like an albatross around the opposition’s neck. The Opposition Leader, even if he wanted to give trouble (which I doubt), is effectively weighed down, hogtied, helpless. He and his group are victims of the creative destruction they fostered, which now has come back to control them. Third, the Hon. Vice President is well aware of the lure of the fabulous loot associated with Guyana’s oil. And, given that the loot is so much, there is readiness to engage the opposition offline and make things happen. I think shared governance is planned; perhaps, already occurring except that it is not in the manner that I envisioned.
I leave things here and make one request of fellow citizens. They must look for themselves-PPP loyalists, PNC insiders, AFC sidekicks-and analyze and decide if this is not where things are. With the exception of Mr. Timothy Jonas, most of the new party presences are already absorbed in the PPP apparatus and made happy. The government, opposition, and fresh faces are happy. Civil society is happy. The Americans are happy. The only unhappy people around are the Chinese, Venezuelans, and me. I may not matter, but I plan to tell it as I see it and let all the political powers go from there in this one-party Guyana.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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