The PNCR is stuck in the past

Sep 01, 2023 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – The President has said that he is just a phone call away. He has pointed out how he offered a humble hand across the political aisle and it was rejected. As such, he rightly contends that the onus is not on him to reach out.

The refusal of the leader of the PNCR to accept a handshake from the President of Guyana might appear to be a display of political grandstanding, playing to the wider political gallery. However, in the context of the PNCR’s history and recent actions, this refusal takes on a much deeper significance. It’s not merely a moment of political theater; it’s a reflection of the failure of the leadership of the PNCR to evolve from its sordid past, embrace a democratic future, and engage in the kind of politics that the 21st-century demands.

The PNCR has a long and sordid past marked by the promotion of political violence and even election rigging. It avoided widespread international condemnation and sanctions, between 1968 and 1985, because of the then Cold War.  Who would have believed that the PNCR would have resorted to a return to its dark past in 2020?

But this is exactly what it did when it sought to benefit from an attempt to shamelessly rig the March 2020 elections and to deny a young man his deserved moment of glory. This déjà vu moment called into question the PNCR’s commitment to modern democratic values.

The refusal to acknowledge its electoral defeat – narrow as it was – demonstrates a failure to adapt to post-1989 democratic politics. While the PNCR managed to return to power through legitimate means in 2015, its subsequent actions have cast doubts on its willingness to uphold democratic principles. This reluctance to accept defeat not only undermines its credibility but also reveals a stubborn attachment to an outdated playbook.

In a political climate where slim majorities have become the norm since 2011, the PNCR’s conduct in 2020 can only be described as a self-inflicted wound. By attempting to claim victory in an election that was clearly not in its favor, the party tarnished its reputation and weakened its own position. The irony is palpable – a party that once re-entered the political stage through free and fair elections is now jeopardizing its own future by rejecting the very democratic principles that facilitated its resurgence.

Now it has taken a hostile and unnecessary posture towards the President.  Refusing to extend that hand represents more than just a moment of personal pride; it’s a missed opportunity for dialogue, compromise, and productive cooperation – that can lead to the path of political redemption. The refusal to engage in this basic act of respect sends a clear message: the PNCR is not willing to participate in the democratic give-and-take that sustains a healthy political ecosystem.

The heart of the matter lies in the PNCR’s apparent contempt for democratic principles. The party’s refusal to accept the election results and its subsequent attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the process reflects a deep-seated aversion to democratic norms. In a time when citizens across the globe are demanding transparency, accountability, and respect for the sanctity of elections, the PNCR’s actions stand in stark contrast to the ideals that underpin modern democratic societies.

The refusal to shake hands is not just an act of protest, as the PNCR wants it to appear. It is emblematic of a larger failure to change course. The PNCR’s leadership had an opportunity to demonstrate growth, maturity, and a commitment to democratic values by gracefully accepting defeat and engaging constructively with the elected government. Instead, it chose to cling to, discredited narratives, outdated tactics, and questionable behavior that harken back to a darker era of politics.

It is doubtful whether the PNCR can ever regain credibility. The one man who restored credibility to the party has been pushed out of the leadership and sent into political retirement.

So long as the PNCR has within its leadership persons who continue to peddle the narrative that it was cheated out of an election victory, embracing democratic values will be difficult. A party that does not embrace such values has no place in competitive politics, no place in the National Assembly, and no future in modern-day politics.

The handshake that never happened is a stark reminder that true democratic progress requires a willingness to leave behind the baggage of the past and stride confidently into the future. Unfortunately, the PNCR is stuck in the past.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

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• demands, Guyana, Peeping, PNCR, President

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