Dear Editor,
I was very instrumental in the APNU+AFC campaign running up to the general and regional elections, like so many others here in Region Two. I can say without a doubt, it was AFC supporters who caused the victory for the coalition; if both parties had chosen their own paths in contesting the elections, they couldn’t have beaten the PPP. If you look at the election results ‒ 33 to 32 ‒ it was a close call; it was good judgement on the part of party leaders including Mr Khemraj Ramjattan to enter into a coalition.
I think both Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo, who are seasoned politicians from way back in time, knew that the only way Burnham’s PNC beat Jagan’s PPP was by entering a coalition with Peter D’Aguiar’s United Force party in 1964, after Britain, changed the electoral system to one of proportional representation. APNU can claim that they had the majority of supporters, and was the larger party in the coalition, which is not in doubt. At the end of the day no one knew how many seats or votes each party got individually because they went on one ticket.
The AFC had an impressive, multi-ethnic, multi-class slate of candidates. At every APNU+AFC meeting and rally the crowds were flamboyant with the 6 races, like a carnival. This was mainly due to the AFC supporters, who were the best ever for sheer colour and creativity spontaneously displayed. However, the messages promised in the election campaign, did not hold up to expectation in the view of AFC supporters; after the coalition won the elections they felt betrayed. The people voted for a change, but instead it’s an exchange.
For the past 23 years, Africans and the other races were marginalized by the PPP, but this new government seems to be no better. When I look at the appointments to state boards and other positions not a single AFC supporter is a member or chairman, although they are qualified. This government has started on the wrong foot, and if it continues in this manner, certainly they will lose votes in the local government elections and the next general election. The indications I am getting from supporters of the AFC is that they will abstain and stay away from voting. Many have become frustrated by the way things are being done without consultation at the grass roots level; there is no grass roots democracy, according to them.
Although it’s too early to forecast what will be the outcome of the five-year period, we have seen some progress in some areas, like cleaning up corruption, going after state assets and money which was stolen by some officials of the previous administration. It is true that the new government was given a basket to fetch water, and received a broken down infrastructure; they have an uphill task for this period in government. Most of their time and energy is being spent to clean up 23 years of mess created by the last administration; all the industries like rice, sugar, bauxite, gold, etc, are down; subsidies will be needed to keep them above water.
Crime has somewhat decreased, but there are still too many petty crimes in the country which need to be tackled, as some policemen are lackadaisical in performing their duties; they do not act when they receive a call or go to the scene when they are summoned to investigate. The Ministry of Public Security is one of the most difficult ministries to manage without modern technology and trained professionals in the field of crime-fighting. The government is moving too slowly to modernize and restructure the Guyana Police Force, while the criminals are ten steps ahead of the police.
Since the election was won no one from either party has visited the interior and other regions to thank the voters, supporters and their polling agents, and to hear their problems; this is a grave mistake because the party will need these same people for the next election. No ‘thank you’ letters were ever sent out to them. I have noticed only the Prime Minister is replying to emails and letters; some of these ministers do not even acknowledge your letters or emails. It seems like the government is following in the footsteps of the previous administration which caused their downfall after 23 years in power.
Some ministers are not performing to expectations since they assumed office, and as I stated in an earlier letter in the Stabroek News, I will be critical and expose the coalition in its shortcomings.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
