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Freddie spot on in analyzing PNC politics

Nov 20, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – Freddie Kissoon is spot on (Nov 18) in his assessment of the PNC leadership. It is a brilliant analysis and conclusion.
The party needs a leader not connected with its sordid past (election rigging, racist governance, corruption, and other negatives for which it was accused) — real and or perceived. In light of what took place after its defeat of the no-confidence motion and the loss of the March 2, 2020 general elections. It needs a transformational leader now more than ever. Would anyone seeking leadership disassociate himself from or condemn the negatives of the past and commit to rehabilitating the shattered image of the PNC?
Freddie is right that the PNC had two rare opportunities to transform Guyana – December 1964 and May 2015 and it blew both opportunities – and abused both, establishing a dictatorship in the first and attempted to establish another dictatorship during the second lifetime chance. And both times it was put into office and removed with the support of the US, disappointing Uncle Sam with its behavior. I recall the large reservoir of goodwill towards the coalition thru 2015 and part of 2016 and then it was downhill thereafter as the government went on a suicidal course. Many of those who voted for the coalition in May 2015 were pleading for an early end to its tenure. In my more than forty years of studying comparative politics, I never saw a government lost support so quickly.
Like Freddie, I too engaged a few coalition officials and its activists in North America. They were very disappointed with policies especially to the sugar estates and rice farmers. They stated that the way the coalition was behaving and governing and discrimination against sections of the society, it was not seriously interested in re-election. The AFC activists in New York came to the inescapable conclusion that the only way the coalition would return to power was through rigging and unless the PNC addresses that stigma, it would be nearly impossible for swing voters to trust it again.
Nationally, voters have no problem trusting the PPP and other parties with power and respecting the outcome of democratic elections. The PPP made basic mistakes and was removed from office in 2015 and sat in the opposition. Although it could, the PPP did not seek to extend its stay in office after the May 2015 election. Bharrat Jagdeo became leader and took required measures to transform the party catapulting it into office once again in August 2020. Give jack his jacket. Jagdeo understands the politics better than any of the PNC operatives. He is among the best political strategists. Instead of terminating workers and putting families on the bread line, he has been doling out social welfare benefits to those affected by Covid-19 and floods and cash grants to pensioners and students and their parents as well as displaced sugar workers. In addition, farmers have been getting subsidies in fertilizers and seedlings. The PNC leaders seem to lack the skills and political brilliance of a Jagdeo.
The various candidates for PNC offices are not known and their plans and programs for cross-racial support too are not known. There appears to be two slates of candidates seeking control of the executive and at least three seeking the leadership and three for Chairman. In past PNC internal elections was for the executive. Whoever controls the election machinery general wins the important posts. Will there be a repeat?
Instead of restricting voting to delegates, the PNC and other parties should make the process more democratic and open voting to all its members to participate in the selection of leadership as is done in the developed countries.
Volda Lawrence is popular among PNCites and I won’t be surprised if she wins re-election as Chair. She may not accept the nomination for leadership.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram

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