A civil society alliance for renegotiation or Third Force Party needed

Apr 20, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor:
The columnist Peeping Tom recently said, “When it comes to the renegotiation of the highly flawed oil agreement, Guyanese should no longer look towards either the government or the Opposition. Both have made it quite clear that there will be no renegotiation of the agreement. This constitutes a betrayal of the public interest. For if there is any agreement which requires renegotiation, it is the Production Sharing Agreement entered between the oil companies and the government of Guyana.
Many agree with Tom’s suggestion, and the renegotiation movement is growing. The people of Guyana must never be bullied, be beguiled, and be deceived to accept, nor agree to the notion that the PNC signed a bad contract and nothing can be done about it. If this is true, we are doomed as a nation, and poor people are doomed forever in a land of plenty! This is simply unacceptable. What kind of jellyfish leaders do we have? Can you imagine Dr. Jagan or even the tyrant Burnham taking such a weak, sellout position? What happen to the party of Jagan that was anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist, and working class? Did Jaganism die with Comrade Cheddi and Janet? What ideology replaced it? Reverse Robin Hood? The new Opposition Leader was also a Young Socialist Movement (YSM) guy, an anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist, and working class. What happened? This guy was swearing that he never said the “R” word – RENEGOTIATION. I feel so sorry for the PNC people. Will this guy get reelected and be the PNC presidential candidate in 2025?
In such a Civil Society alliance that Peeping Tom advocates, the trade union movement should be a big part. Of all people, they should understand without renegotiation there can be no increases in salary through “living wage” reforms, better employee pension schemes, old age pension schemes with annual cost-of-living adjustments, new social security/income supports for housewives and stay-at-home moms, income support for self-employed people, the disabled and other vulnerable populations. Sadly, the trade union movement is divided and we have PPP unions and PNC unions – the TUC and FITUG. I hope workers would start a movement to push their unions to lead a “renegotiation” initiative, cancel their union membership if they don’t, and start new unions that will support renegotiation.
The religious groups, which should be in the forefront of leading a “renegotiation” alliance, are such a sad case. Especially, my group – the Pentecostals have been singing zestfully for a long time, “I shall not, I shall not be moved!” These are the worst kind, an embarrassment to our Christ, as they preach about “Daniel in the Lion’s den,” “Esther,” and Moses and Joshua leading people out of bondage, and the prophets rebuking their nations’ sins, but they are busy appointing themselves as “Apostles,” and doing nothing. These are the worst because they tell the people give me your tithes and seed offerings now, and you will be blessed later. They forget their “liberation theology.” Renegotiation leads to bigger tithes and offerings, and more money for the churches!
So, Mr. Tom, there is a loose Alliance now. Loud voices are Mr. Glenn Lall, KN, SN, the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN), the “Our Wealth, Our Country” (OWOC) group, Article 13, TIGI, some environmentalists, and a growing chorus of groups and individuals who understand the rich will get richer and poor will get poorer, unless we go back to constructing a new deal contract. Mr. Lincoln Lewis and Norris Witter are in support of renegotiation and they have nothing to lose if they break away from the PNC on this matter and bring along the other unions.
A Trade Union’s first loyalty is to the workers who pay their dues, not politicians who use them. In the absence of a national, formal Civil Society Alliance for Renegotiation, political space has been created for the emergence of a Third Force with renegotiation as its basis. Nation, we should hope this happens soon! After all, Guyana’s wealth belongs to Guyanese, not politicians who want to govern natural resources poorly to benefit themselves and collaborating bourgeoisie and petty bourgeoisie classes. Let’s take back our wealth from crooked politicians and neo-colonialists, and take back Guyana!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall

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A civil society alliance for renegotiation or Third Force Party needed

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