Dear Editor,
The PNC’s choice of David Granger as the party’s presidential candidate clearly reveals the impoverished minds of the party’s hierarchy. Surely the party has a few persons who possess managerial and leadership qualities. And surely there are persons who are intellectually competent and decent. What management skills and knowledge of global economics can a military leader impart to a nation struggling for economic and social progress? The world has long passed the subterfuge and repression of the Cold War and anyone who wants to sit in the presidential secretariat must be well equipped and resourceful with the capability to instil confidence in a nation well-known for police and military suppression. A military strongman is no fit person to lead any nation. Guyana’s present culture is vastly different from both its eastern and western neighbours.
Much has been written of the stealing of ballot boxes by the Guyana Defence Force. Had Mr Granger any human decency he would have resigned. There has been poor to zero visibility of Mr Granger’s post PNC era contributions to the country. In this regard one can ask: what has this person done to benefit the people of Guyana? Can his intimacy with military matters align with the knowledge of agriculture? Can he lend expertise to the (faltering) bauxite industry?
Additionally, under the ramifications of the present constitution, the leadership of Guyana is defined by the presidency. Whoever sits there is touted as ‘is we ruling.’ While The bottom line in this debate is simply that there is no time for one to learn on the job; he must be competent from the day he assumes office. But then, of course, Guyanese wait with bated breath on the candidate for the PPP.
Yours faithfully,
Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine
