Dear Editor,
I am a diehard supporter of the PPP like many other Guyanese but when those at the top make statements and do things to hurt us it is time someone alert the hierarchy of the PPP/C to their shortcomings. And yes, it is Mr Robert Persaud‘s comments on Channel 11‘s 6 pm Friday newscast that triggered this letter.
While I dearly trust the President, I suggest it is time for him to start his clean-up, beginning with his cabinet.
It is a slur on the electors to say they were too complacent because they have a good life under the PPP/C government, and they ignored the need to vote or took voting for granted believing that the PPP would win resulting in the PPP/C’s loss of more than 15000 votes. This is not the era when Guyanese vote blindly at the request of political parties.
Guyanese have weighed the actions, performance, corruption, favouritism, insecurity, discrimination, breaking down of stalls and homes, the allocation of contracts to contractors of questionable character/performance, etc. It is unfortunate that the PPP/C took its supporters for granted and thought that they would forget the misconduct of ministers.
Guyanese have made numerous complaints to individuals in political positions in many parts of the country, yet no one from in the government or the hierarchy of the PPP/C paid attention. The result is that those affected turned to the AFC. Mr Nandlall, PPP/C MP went into Enmore to tell the people during the campaign that it was dangerous to support the AFC because they will give their support in parliament to the APNU. That is the bitter truth we now have to live with all because the PPP/C failed to heed the complaints of its supporters at the grass roots level.
Guyanese refused to vote and/or support the PPP/C because they have encroached upon the livelihood of their citizens. The sugar workers have showed what they could do by their votes. The AFC taking a sizeable amount of votes from the PPP support base is a sign that Guyanese are dissatisfied with the administration of the PPP/C. More than 100,000 electors refused to go to the polls for various reasons. At the last moment Manzoor Nadir’s intervention caused a split in the TUF giving support to the AFC resulting in the loss of the Region 8 regional seat to the AFC.
Mr Robert Persaud has the opportunity to analyse the SOPs for the party’s support base against the voters’ list and he will get the figure of the thousands who did not vote in the PPP strongholds. As a people we have gone through tremendous humiliation at the hands of persons in key positions who were put there to act on behalf of the government, and for him to make a statement saying we were too complacent and took voting for granted believing that the PPP would win is like adding salt to the wound.
And last but not least, I think that Mr Jagdeo contributed to Guyanese disgust with the PPP/C when he went forefront in the campaign trials to ‘cuss’ and abuse every politician, businessman, etc, whom he had in mind. That was so disgusting. Perhaps he thought it was his last chance to castigate those he had in mind (as he was leaving) without giving thought or care to how his conduct would have affected the PPP/C in the elections.
I sincerely wish the new President will acknowledge that it is not the gifts of solar panels, outboard engines, tractors, chainsaws, computers, 8% increase at the last moment, etc, that earn votes but a fair distribution of the resources of the country, that every community is properly monitored and cared for under the respective councils by individuals of integrity, uplifting the standard of living or every Guyanese, taking necessary action against officials when complaints are made, etc. The PPP/C should make the change now or the next time around we may be out.
I urge Mr Ramotar to prepare for a rough road in parliament.
Very best wishes to President Donald Ramotar and the PPP/C; let progress continue.
Yours faithfully,
Anand Narine
