Screaming corruption is the new formula of the Opposition

Feb 01, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

During the Cold War scores of democratically elected governments in the Third World were overthrown by a coalition of local authoritarian operatives and their foreign counterparts. Many of the operations were based on a simple formula whereby the locals simply screamed socialism or communism. The foreigners, often without any knowledge or evidence of what was transpiring on the ground, provided the resources to engineer a coup or to use other techniques of interference. Guyana was a victim of this when the PPP was removed from office and the PNC was installed.

It is important to note that in our own case the PNC had quite a helping hand from private individuals, and private organization, all of whom hid behind the label civil society.

In the post-Cold-War period, these undemocratic forces have found a new formula. All they have to do is shout corruption. Much like the old days, private individuals and organizations who are aligned against the PPP government, are waving their modern magic wand of corruption. The local branch of Transparency International, and numerous letter writers and columnists have been harnessing the corruption label. As usual, little or no evidence is ever produced.

To the credit of Western governments, they have become much more conscious of these subterfuges. In the case of Guyana, the embassies know of the recent record of the APNU-AFC. They are also aware that two major newspapers in Guyana are fronts for the opposition. The foreign embassies have picked up on the double standards of these newspapers.

The corruption narrative is championed by the same folks who attempted to rig the 2020 elections. That much is widely known, and for that reason, they are not taken too seriously.

Sincerely,

Dr. Randy Persaud

authoritarian, corruption, Dr. Randy Persaud, formula, opposition

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