THE GREAT DEBATE ON ETHNIC VOTING: WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE?

Jun 19, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – The party in power has the momentum, plus it is flush with oil revenues. PPP deserves the credit for winning significant Afro-ethnic cross-over votes to the Indian-led PPP – and winning 3 townships and several NDC’s previously held by the PNC.

What does this event portend for the future?

First, this is a positive event in the politics of Guyana. Guyana needs to move away from its all-consuming racial voting. When only Indians support PPP – or only Africans support PNC – that in and of itself undermines the essences and the legitimacy of democracy. So, cross-racial voting in and of itself is an extremely good thing for Guyana.

Will this cross-over voting event become a trend? Will it change the politics of Guyana for the better? Who gains? PPP, of course. Who loses? The PNC.

My advice to the PNC

You’ve got to rethink the whole concept of ethnic party and ethnic voting. Kick this bucket now. Transform the PNC into a genuine multi-racial party. If it means pandering to Indians, embrace it. Pandering is good up to a point beyond which it brings negative results. I once had this conversation with Mr Robert Corbin (2010), trying to make a plea and an argument for him to endorse Winston Murray for leader of the PNC. Corbin lacks vision. He did not see the need for transformation of the PNC. He continued to perpetuate and mold the PNC as an Afro-Guyanese people’s party. Granger ran the PNC Gov’t for 5-years. It was a disaster. Mr Granger was “controlled” by a bunch of core leaders in PNC. The dark clouds have cleared away today. Now Mr Corbin and company should be able to see into the future clearly – and be able to make decisions about charting a different course for Guyana into the 21st century.

My advice to the PPP

Don’t crow yet over your LGE 2023 victory. Afro-cross-racial voting is not a given. Not a trend yet. One election, one event-success could be reversed. PPP is still a perceived Indo-ethnic party. Don’t count on African-Guyanese voting in sufficient numbers for what they perceive as an Indian party.

PPP is on the cusp of transformative changes – away from the disastrous racial politics of the past 65-years. Don’t lose the momentum. Selecting an Afro-Guyanese man for PM who cannot succeed to the presidency is bad policy. It’s racist to the nth power. It is ugly. Change this policy and help to move Guyana into a new dawn of non-racial politics. End excessively high ethnic voting for ethnic parties.

Regards
Mike Persaud

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Mr Granger was "controlled" by a bunch of core leaders in PNC, My advice to the PNC, My advice to the PPP, NDC's previously held by the PNC, Who loses? The PNC

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