Guyanese must unite to uphold democracy: The unsettling conduct of Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Dec 30, 2023 Letters

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 Dear Editor,

At his last press conference, held Thursday, December 28, 2023, Guyanese were treated to a less than stellar performance of the Vice President, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo. In fact, his shocking utterances betrayed any residual of public confidence in his fitness to occupy the esteemed position of Vice President of our country. These conferences have come to be characterised by a sort of low class “cuss out”. I am sure that all decent Guyanese are tired of all the vituperation in those press conferences or whenever the Vice President opens his mouth at any and every forum. He has no class and lacks the ability to raise the level of political discourse in our country to a place where it can titillate our minds to seriously advance the interests of citizens.

At that press conference, our attention has been drawn to a disconcerting turn of events involving the Vice President. Publicly declaring an intention to go after social media influencers, residing within and beyond our borders, critical of the PPP/C government is not only a violation of democratic fundamentals but also an incredibly troubling display of power that is fatal to freedom of speech and free speech. 

It is embarrassingly sad that the Vice President, who is an individual entrusted with protecting and upholding the ideals of justice, fairness and equality, has unfortunately veered off course by publicly advocating for the silencing of dissent. This departure from the principles that form the foundation of our democracy should be a cause of concern for every citizen regardless of their political persuasion. Citizens should enjoy the fundamental right to express opinions without fear of reprisal. 

However, what is exhaustingly hypocritical about the Vice President is the fact that it is public knowledge that a known party affiliate, who has been using his social media platform to launch verbal attacks against government critics, and whom the Vice President has been entertaining at special one-on-one interviews, has been awarded a state contract under questionable circumstances.

This raises serious questions about the integrity of the government’s contracting processes and the ethical standards upheld by our highest – ranking officials. The blatant misuse and abuse of power to suppress dissent coupled with preferential treatment accorded to those align with the ruling party (PPP/C), presents an extremely distressing picture of our political landscape. Worse, this is happening in our country with enormous oil wealth flowing in the hand of the government that is seeking to stifle dissenting voices. This has real implications for the essentials of a democratic society. The interplay between oil money and the abuse of power undermines the foundation of democracy and creates a suitable environment for injustice, and inequality.

It is settled knowledge that democracy not only breathes the air that gushes from diversity of voices but also strives on the robust exchange of ideas. Attempts by the government to suppress criticisms and manipulate public political discourse not only destroys public trust but also compromises the very core of a democratic society. I believe that as citizens of this beloved country we, all of us, must hold our leaders accountable for their actions and demand transparency, fairness, and the principles that frame our democracy. The role of the Vice President is not to shield the government from scrutiny but to champion the values that ensure the well-being and prosperity of all citizens.

Citizens may recall that in 2011, a report from the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) said that: stagnation, violence, corruption, arch- sectarianism, and unfettered crime is the heritage that President Bharrat Jagdeo will bequeath to his country. According to that report, Jagdeo could only receive the lowest of marks from any independent evaluation. “Through his tolerance of crime, racism, and dismal social progress, President Jagdeo has turned in a fifth-rate performance as president of one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere.” It said that …Jagdeo will go down in history as a man who did almost nothing for his nation while in office”. Now that he is serving his third term (de facto) he is intensifying his banalities against critics and enhancing his legacy of corruption, racism and poverty.

Again, I urge all Guyanese, particularly those living in the Diaspora to use social media to express and magnify their condemnation of the actions of the repressive, discriminatory and authoritarian PPP/C government. Our collective voice must resonate against any and every attempt to suppress dissent and restrict and deny the rights and freedoms of individuals, whether within or beyond our borders.

 Roysdale Forde S.C., Member of Parliament (MP)

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• Bharrat Jagdeo, Democracy, Member of Parliament (MP), Roysdale Forde S.C., Vice President

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