Alissa Trotz is editor of the In the Diaspora column.
Barbadian writer George Lamming has written compellingly of the limits of Westminster style democracy in the Caribbean, a system he sees as reducing the populace “to the dormant and abused status of electoral fodder [where] every five years, they become visible and decisive in a tribal power game which concludes with their absence from any serious consultation about their future.” It is now just two weeks after our election delivered a minority PPP/C government, with the combined opposition gaining a majority of seats for the first time in Guyanese parliamentary history. There appears to be a general sentiment that the outcome provides a slender window of opportunity for charting a future beyond the tribalism that Lamming describes. As a statement issued by the Amerindian People’s Association, Church Women United, Commonground, Guyana Human Rights Association, Guyana Society for the Blind, Rights of Children and Red Thread noted, “margins of victory are sufficiently small as to impose a degree of bi-partisanship and negotiated politics, replacing the rubber-stamp winner-take-call approach which has characterized Guyanese politics for too long. A mentality of compromise and flexibility is more necessary for successful minority politics and better suits the diversity of society. The election results open the possibility of revitalising political life; and of renovating political institutions and processes which have impeded progress in Guyana and frustrated too many of its citizens into seeking to live elsewhere.”
Some troubling events have since tempered our optimism, beginning with the state’s response to APNU supporters as they demonstrated against GECOM for refusing to hand over Statements of Poll. We should all be clear about where the violence has come from, for it has not been from those young people assembling and taking peacefully to the streets to voice their frustration with the electoral process and to express their desire for a government of national unity. Instead, it is the people who have been greeted by rubber bullets and arrests. Whether or not one agrees with the protestors, and whether or not one joined them on the streets, all Guyanese and freedom-loving people should be outraged at the unwarranted use of force by the police. We are speaking out not just for their right to public protest, but for the rights of all Guyanese to freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association, as guaranteed by Article 40 (1) of the Guyana Constitution. We should also reject as wholly unsatisfactory what appears to be a ‘passing the buck’ response by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and Police Commissioner Henry Greene, who it seems would shamefully wish to wash their hands of the matter by blaming the violence on the actions of junior police ranks.
Other post-election developments remind us that it will take time and effort to unlearn what has become a deeply ingrained political culture.
At his swearing in ceremony, President Donald Ramotar sounded the right note when he said that it was time to put aside pettiness and come together as one, but regrettably he went on to indicate that he would choose an all PPP cabinet, which he has since done. No effort has yet been made to explain to the Guyanese population the mysterious reasoning behind certain ministerial appointments. Most puzzling in this regard with respect to qualifications for the job, is the appointment of Juan Edghill as junior minister within the Ministry of Finance. In several other respects, continuity with the direction of the Jagdeo administration appears to have been preferred over change. While it is to be expected that the PPP would have selected from among their ranks for Speaker of the House, one must ask what signal they are sending by putting Ralph Ramkarran’s name forward again. Another notable example is the reappointment of Clement Rohee as Minister of Home Affairs, a portfolio that has delivered neither safety nor security to the Guyanese population and is arguably the least successful Ministry of the last administration. In the absence of an explanation for this decision, it is difficult to see this as anything but the rewarding of failure. And then there is Robert Persaud, who was in charge of a PPP campaign dominated by vituperative attacks by Bharrat Jagdeo on the media and opposition, and which despite outspending the combined opposition several times over and a near monopoly of state media, still failed to deliver a majority to the ruling party. Moreover, instead of demonstrating the humility that one might expect from such a result, Persaud remarkably chided PPP supporters for being so confident of a victory that they did not turn out to the polls.
He chose to see them as namak haram (unfaithful) to the PPP, rather than namak halal (loyal) to principles that led them to stay at home or cast a vote elsewhere. For all of this, Robert Persaud has been rewarded with a new and highly significant ministerial portfolio.
All of this is a sober reminder that November 28th was not the end; in fact the work has now begun. The new Parliament will be critical in building what Martin Carter has called “a free community of valid persons.” The title of this week’s column borrows from the spirit invoked in a hopeful speech given by President Cheddi Jagan, at the Ceremonial opening of the First Session of the Sixth Parliament of Guyana on December 17th, 1992.
Notably, one of the issues that President Jagan specifically addressed had to do with income inequalities in relation to pensions: “The first time I entered the Legislative Council, I spoke on the issue of pensions. It grieves me to know that there are so many Guyanese senior citizens who get so small pension [sic]. I think they deserve more from the contributions they had made to the society.” Perhaps among the first tasks the new Parliament might set itself is examining ways of increasing Guyanese pensions, as well as revisiting the pension and unlimited benefits provided for in the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act No. 12 of 2009, which former President Jagdeo is the first to be entitled to.
It is worth dedicating this week’s column to an extensive excerpt of President Cheddi Jagan’s generous address, as a timely and humbling reminder of what could have been delivered 19 years ago, and what Guyanese now have a unique and historic opportunity to accomplish with the Tenth Parliament:
“This is indeed an historic moment for me. It was forty-five years ago, on the 18 December, 1947, that I took my seat for the first time in the Legislative Council.
“That was one of the most exciting, enjoyable and productive periods of my life. I read almost every available report, and put a lot of energy and seriousness into my legislative work. And the battles were truly pitched: I had to face some of the most entrenched personalities, representing the plantocracy and vested interests, And my experience was that it needed more than mere logic and enthusiasm to convince the powers that-be of the day.
Only way I could succeed, I told myself, was to keep close to the people, who had voted for me to champion their cause. It paid off – the PPP was formed in 1950, and in 1953, we won a decisive victory of eighteen out of twenty-four seats.
“This is also an historic moment for our nation and people. After my 1947 victory I had said, and I now say again: “We the people have won.” The new government has been mandated to carry out its work by dint of the collective voice of an electorate which expressed its wishes in the most unfettered of forms – a free and fair election, which was so certified by international observers and the electors themselves.
“October 5 ushered in a new era: a time for democratic renewal; a time for the rule of law; a time for peace and harmony; a time for change and a time to rebuild.
“Today, the world can proclaim that for the first time since independence, we have a Parliament which is truly representative of the people.
“Mr. Speaker. l want to put on record two relevant sections of the PPP/Civic Manifesto which will guide my administration. I quote from page 4: ` The new state will be a Republic founded on universally acclaimed principles of freedom, equality and solidarity where the only paramount institution will be the Parliament, guided by a new constitution fashioned by the Guyanese people.’
“I now quote from page 5: `The PPP/Civic Government will recognize the existence of a multi-party system and ensure that all laws directly or indirectly related to political activities are observed and enforced. Opposition parties will not be treated with the arrogant disdain of the past.
There will be no harassment of political parties in their search for political support. The attainment of political power by democratic means will be recognized as a legitimate objective which is the right of every political party and not the preserve of any ruling party.’
“The current Parliament is one which has had a fresh breath of democratic air blown through its hallowed walls. In its re-constituted state, it must remain sacrosanct, and it must guarantee the protection of the interests and wishes of the general populace with which it has been entrusted. The public gallery of this Parliament chamber must be utilized to its capacity. And deliberations of Parliament must be fully ventilated. Its current configuration allows for the full and frank exchange of views on the Order Paper. Thus, while ensuring that decisions are taken only after adequate ventilation of ideas, the Parliament has the capacity to preserve the ideals which a Parliament in a true democracy is duty bound to respect. The populace must consider Parliament as the most accessible forum at which its collective wishes may be carried out.
“It is true that a fundamental characteristic of democracy is that the will of the majority prevails over that of the minority. But the minority must be able to rest assured that decisions have been taken only after opposing views have been expressed. That alone must be cause for comfort. And that alone must assure the electorate that Parliamentary democracy is being practiced for the collective good of the nation.
“It is in this context that I take great pleasure in congratulating the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker and all members of the House.
You now have a mandate from the people and to a great degree the future of Guyana lies in your hands. Among your most important responsibilities, I humbly suggest, would be the restoration of pride in all things Guyanese – our multiparty democracy and its institutions, including this House; our beautiful multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nation.
…“Let me add that our national democratic state will soon complete the process of representative democracy. After the revision of the voter’s list, we shall hold elections, free and fair from fear, in all municipal, village and Amerindian districts.
And democracy will also be participatory. We have begun the process of involving the working people through their democratically-run organizations in management and decision-making. Our nation must be rid forever of bureaucratic/ command type government and bureaucratic/command type management.
…“In all our endeavours, I repeat, Parliament will be central as the highest legislative authority in the lands. At all times what must be uppermost on our agenda is the national interest. This is not a place for selfishness, petty games and vindictiveness.
“To carry out its functions effectively, Parliament must be a truly deliberative body, with a strong Committee System. All major legislation coming before the House must be thoroughly examined and there must be prior consultation with those whose interests are directly affected. And while issues are being debated in Parliament, they must be fully ventilated and discussed at the street corners, the University of Guyana and in the media.”
