After this weekend, all will be decided and the infighting will stop

Jun 25, 2024 Letters

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Dear Editor,

In the more than 70 years since the introduction of universal adult suffrage in Guyana and the formation of the PPP as the first mass-based political party more than 35 political parties, representing a wide range of ideologies, identities and visions, have achieved different degrees of success contesting national elections.

Of this number, only 2 (PPP/C and PNC/R) have gained independent control of the state while 7 have been part of a victorious coalition/partnership with the PNC/R;  about 15 parties have secured parliamentary representation at one time or another and a majority (57%) are defunct, while a record 15 parties participated, either individually (ANUG, CG, LJP, PPP/C, PRP, TCI, TNM, & URP) or as part of a coalition (AFC, GAP, JFAP, NDF, NFA, PNC/R & WPA).This would seem to suggest that democracy is blooming and citizens have a wide range of representations. The fact is that the prevalence of large numbers of parties does not mask what is essentially a political system dominated by two parties exchanging roles as government and opposition helping to create some sort of checks and balances on the immense power of the executive.

However, in the last 40 years (since 1985), one party, the PNC/R, has won only 1/7 national elections (2015) and its perceived inability to win anytime soon and in the present circumstances is a cause of tremendous concern to many, within and without, the party. Citizen Audreyanna Thomas, a declared Presidential Candidate for 2025 has decried the immense, unrestrained power of the PPP/C administration saying that “the government from 2020 to now, has effectively taken away power from every aspect of our country and the Guyanese society. They have taken away power from the Opposition, business community, public sector, justice sector, civil society sector, law enforcement, security sector, communities, individuals and have effectively neutralised the international community”.

Kaieteur News columnist, G.H.K. Lall also expresses concern that “there have been ongoing widespread laments about the presence of a viable political opposition in Guyana” and wonders, come next year, whether there will be any political opposition at all to act as a brake on the PPP/C’s unrelenting march towards totalitarianism. Many political commentators, members and supporters of the party, including longstanding acquaintances of the incumbent leader, have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the PNC/R, presently led, has become almost irrelevant to any important national discourse and that its likely defeat in next year’s election is an existential threat to the party and country. This is the context of this week-end’s PNC/R 22nd Biennial Congress which will determine if the party will regress or regroup, refocus and rebuild.

It should be readily understood that political parties are organized to win political power in pursuit of specific ideological and policy goals and not as a platform to massage any individual’s ego or serve their personal gratification. Political infighting inside the PNC/R, as it is called, is not new or inherently fatal; initial infighting in the original PPP led to the birth of the PNC in the 1950’s and resurfaced after its election defeat in 1992, and is a consequential and regular feature of party congresses in opposition as blame is cast and accountability is sought and new strategies debated, so it is probably not difficult to understand why the two most contentious congresses would have followed the party’s defeats while in government (1992 & 2020). This Congress is especially critical, and therefore more contentious, because the previous one was essentially a repudiation of the Granger legacy which had brought the PNC/R its only electoral victory in about three decades by forging an electoral partnership and coalition.

The Granger formula of a leader of high personal integrity and respect, scrupulous commitment to transparency and accountability, inclusiveness and consensus-building was deemed to have failed and a leader was chosen who is now accused of executive lawlessness, serialized violations of the party’s constitution, lack of personal integrity, extreme divisiveness, autocratic tendencies and more concerned with personal gratification than the well-being of the party. Now with the experience of that decision, and the time for more rational analysis, this Congress must choose whether to return to the strategy that proved successful such a short time ago, or to maintain the current course and forego any reasonable chance of becoming a viable opposition and alternative government soon.

I believe that the delegates to this Congress have the responsibility of determining the quality of leadership and the type of party they wish to build, serve and represent. As for myself, I have argued consistently in favour of a particular candidate (Roysdale Forde) and vision, and for a transparent, fair and respectful process and support everyone’s right to the same. After this weekend, all will be decided and the infighting will stop, until the next time, unless the party wins on the back of a united and inspired effort.

Sincerely,

Oscar Dolphin

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• formation, Guyana, itizen Audreyanna Thomas, Oscar Dolphin, victorious

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