Dear Editor,
The issue of a possible David Granger presidency has raised much concern, because of the silly excuses he continues to make regarding his role in the GDF and more importantly his strenuous defence of the role of the army in removing the ballot boxes and storing them at the army headquarters, Camp Ayanganna for more than 3 days. Shouldn’t that be cause for serious concern?
He went on to explain the reasons why the army was involved, rather than stating that it was a wrong thing to do and that he had played no role in such an act of unprofessionalism. In this regard, I must say that there has been no further involvement of the army or police in the collection and impounding of ballot boxes. This is now history.
My own concern has to do with my role as a former PPP activist, and how that relates to the national interest. Most sensible Guyanese will agree that we cannot allow another period of dictatorial rule and the militarisation that took place under Burnham. The role of the military and the men associated with it, must be one of no involvement in the management of our country. We need a non-military person to manage our economy and our politics.
I agree with the idea of the setting up of a truth commission as was done in South Africa, where everything will come out and a period of reconciliation will begin. But we cannot forget the past as Mr Granger would like us to do. We cannot accept a report coming out of an inquiry set up by the PNC dictatorship and call that the end of the matter. I, as a victim of the election crimes and violation of human rights, was not invited to give any evidence about said elections and my incarceration.
Mr Granger’s role in intelligence and security matters under Desmond Hoyte, who massively rigged the general election following the death of Forbes Burnham, is bound to raise serious concern. His open alignment with the Robert Corbin faction of the PNC is also another concern.
Mr Granger must tell the nation also about his Washington consensus policies and his national, regional and international policies and the effects these will have on Guyana. Already, he has said that he will wait and see what his Labour Minister (if elected as president) will propose. I am confident that it will be an anti-workers policy following from the answers he gave on a recent television programme about his economic and social programme. Rice farmers will have no place under his government if he were to win the next election.
Yours faithfully,
Mike Rahman
