Dear Editor,
The SN article captioned ‘Volda trounced Norton…’ in the June 29 edition will no doubt stimulate speculation about Guyana’s future. The assertions of well respected PNCR MP, Mr Winston Murray that there is no reason for the PNC to apologise for anything it might have done during its 28 years in office, that every government makes mistakes and that the PNC is proud of its record clearly signal the PNC stance. The PNC finds itself in a quagmire. To apologise for the injustices and misrule during its tenure is to appeal to Indo-Guyanese votes. The opportunity cost of this, would be its traditional supporters, a high cost as it is unlikely that an apology would translate into more Indian votes for the PNC and may only result in losing traditional supporters. Not to apologise is to remain with its own meta-narrative with viability seriously eroded and under continuous threat from the Alliance For Change (AFC).
The PNC is no longer a credible and respectful opposition and the PPP rightly continues to disrespect them. The PNC will continue to lose supporters to the AFC. This will translate into the PPP automatically continuing to triumph at general elections. If one looks at the last three general election results by region and collate this with our demographic trends, the only conclusions to be drawn are: the PPP will win the Presidency in 2011; the PNC will lose more supporters to the AFC; both the PNC and the PPP will receive less votes, while the AFC votes will increase, especially if a coalition with GAP/ROAR and JFP is arranged.
I have analysed the trend, which confirms that the main ethnic groups in Guyana continue to overwhelmingly vote according to racial preferences. The high crime rate has done nothing to wean supporters away from the PPP and the only reason the PPP will get less votes is because of the high rate of migration in Guyana, especially by the Indo-Guyanese community. The inherent distrust between Indians and Africans sets the tone for race-based voting and Mr Murray’s vehemence cements this distrust, which is a great disappointment.
But it is very interesting to note that the PPP has not won elections with only Indo-Guyanese votes alone. The PPP has improved its support base in the Amerindian communities and enjoys growing support from Black Guyanese and Mixed-Guyanese communities. The PNC, on the other hand, has lost its Amerindian support base, never had a credible Indo-Guyanese support base and is experiencing reduced support from Afro-Guyanese and Mixed Guyanese voters (especially those looking at issues rather than ethnicity as a factor). The greatest beneficiary of all of this is the AFC.
When Tony Blair won the election in the UK, he hit out at old Labour and was in turn accused of taking politics out of politics. His response was that over 60% of the population at that time did not think of themselves as left wing or right wing, but middle of the road with a middle class standard of living, and thus he had to pitch his message to this 60%. The overwhelming majority of Guyanese still have trust issues to work out in exercising their franchise, and are not ready for issues-based politics. It is this reality which continues to see mainstream political parties playing on the fears of Guyanese at election time. It is this reality which has denied one of my favourite and in my opinion one of the most competent PPP sons, Dr Roger Luncheon, a shot at the presidency, and Winston Murray the leadership of the PNC. Almost 18 years after we had free and fair elections, there are still very strong signs of cracks and fissions in our society.
We missed an opportunity to have established a Truth Commission to flush all the bad blood out of our system. Guyana’s politics and ethnic trust issues are the biggest obstacles to her development and they are much more important than climate change or Carifesta, but continue to be dealt with in a ‘business as usual’ style, with no national effort or money being put into securing the social cohesion of our peoples. But I guess this legacy issue will have to wait on the next PPP administration when we find our FDR, our Teddy Roosevelt, our Abraham Lincoln.
It is hoped that the next leader will commit to leaving a political progeny, and a social programme such as a national social cohesion programme that would commend itself to our future generations.
When will we ever learn? Even though the Barbadian Health Minister was very abusive to his fellow Caribbean people, including Guyanese, he asked one question that stimulated my mind – why are some Caribbean countries not fixing their economy and getting to the point where their citizens do not feel the need to run away?
Yours faithfully,
Sasenarine Singh
It’s always easy to divide and rule. The sharper the division, the more power and abuse of power allowed.It brings in to question the true nation building objectives of the major parties. They have to meet each other halfway and decide to breakdown certain fences and rather build pathways to unity.It’s really appalling, to see how far behind Guyana is in relation to the rest of CARICOM, and no amount of blaming the PNC, can justify this state. Communist countries had over 50 years of communism and in 20 years most of the Post Communist countries were able to put their houses in order and become members of the EU. How many years have passed, since the PPP took over?Where is Guyana now? It’s impossible to stand on one leg for long, if we don’t get all Guyanese to feel, that they have a place in their own country, no amount of propaganda and spin will convince them, that’s it’s otherwise.So Gentlemen\Ladies, are you ‘Nation Builders’ or just mere ‘Distractors’?
I do agreee with the broad thrust of what you are implying, mieczkiewicz however I feel you are a little tough on poor Guyana. Dictator Burnham died and left Guyana in a bankrupt state. Guyana needed and generally got good stewardship however there is much more to do.
You paint the communist countries with a very broad brush and I would just make the following two points:
1 Those that have oil and gas have done well.
2 Those like Lithuania are STIL begging on rich Europe’s streets.
NB: I have a bag of second hand clothes which I shall be giving when the Lithuanian charity van does its street collection in a couple of days time. Try getting Guyanese to wear second hand clothes!
GUYANA IS ALREADY IN NATION BUILDING MODE BUT IT WILL ONLY SUCCEED IF PRIVATE INDUSTRY IS STIMULATED. EVERYTHING ELSE IS SECONDARY.
…dis discourse is tied to de lettah wah fyffe mek SN typeset ,, print an publish ,, cas if fuhall de time we had de ILLEGAL govt pon we back ,, and wen dem get kick out ! de countrey was bankrupt ,, and 2 BILLION USD an change ,, was owed ,, with nothing in de cupboard ,, den wah fyffe seh’in ,, gat to be right abt “our ministers” ,,,,, an iz no wandah ,, he fine fuh attempt to be denigratin de humble Dr.Ramsammy with his dry sarcastic offence for de defence of “our ministers” like de mayah fuh jage tung !
nuds veritas !….
Michael, I would like to read your blog, but I need a Guyanese dictionary to do so. Try standard english pls. ISNM
translation fuh de yankified brotha ,, fum GUYANA …
” this discourse is tied to the letter that fyffe made Sn typeset ,, print ,, and publish ,, cause if all the time we had
the “illegal” govt on our backs and when they were kiked to the curb ,, the country was bankrupt ,, an the nation owed 2 BILLION and change was owed and the cupboard was bare ! then what fyffe is saying has to be right ,, abt “our” ministers and it’s small wonder he has found it in his feeble attempt to denigrate by disparaginly speaking of the humble Dr.Ramsammy with his dry sarcastic offence for a defence of “our” ministers like de mayah fuh jagetung ! happy now ??????????????????????????????????
Good to hear from you Satish,I am living in Poland, and they have neither gas nor any oil resources to speak of,as a matter of fact in this region, the countries ,that have such are Russia and those still in the Russian’s sphere of influence.I witness ,the work done here over the last 20 years. You have to get above divisions and try to work out differences, if you love your country, it can be done. Look at the Polish ’round table’ talks with the democratic forces and the communist. I really want to state, that a country’s leaders must be mature and really forget about divisions. In Poland they called this process the ‘Gruba Kreska’, meaning let’s draa line through what’s was before and get down to building our country together. Guyana can do the same, I truly beleive in this.
Satish I am curious how do you think the Poo poo poo has performed so far in stimulating the private sector to drive the economy of GY?
Ho do you think they have performed the past 17 years?
Living in a multi ethnic and multi religious country where there are no significant ethnic tensions and related violence, I think the mistrust and the misuse of this by politicians will go along as long as people in Guyana will be neglected, as long as the language, religion and culture will be neglected and not respected by other portions in society. The different groups in society should have the right to have their own religion, preserve their language, that should be respected by others, while TOGETHER they work for the national cause. That is the only way to go forwartd peacefully. Indians and black people should ACCEPT their high level of cultures, it’s not a shame to have it. That’s fundamental for peace
The followers of Walter Rodney who risk their lives to fight the PNC on behalf of this regime, and whose concerns are now dismissed with insolent rancour, should travel the world warning others of being similarily deluded. You were used, and now you are being abused. Walter Rodney is turning in his grave.
cant wait for this “PARTY” to self destruct. Then GY can move forward!!
Politics as a stumblin block encompasses opportunists politicians whose only aim is self aggrandizement and power.The ethnic divide is ingrained in the Guyana DNA.This is a rudderrless ship.