Dear Editor,
I am far too removed from the hub of PPP politics and out of the loop for too long to cast judgement and make informed pronouncements. Hence my knowledge of the dynamic and inner working of the PPP is very limited. As such my observation as an outsider looking in may be subjective and limited in scope. Therefore, I willingly yield to those who are closer to the centre of gravity such as former party card holders and stalwarts, Lionel Peters, Rajendra Bissessar, Gerhard Ramsaroop, etc, just to name a few. However, from my perspective, it does not take a rocket scientist or a political guru to recognize that of late, this once cohesive and enduring organization representing Guyanese and Caribbean working class unity and struggle, has been placed either by omission or commission on a self-destructive path. I say omission, because it seems like many of the guardians at the wheel have been caught napping and are yet to be fully cognizant of the perils ahead. The ever widening gap that now threatens to rend asunder this once formidable and respected political organization could have been averted, had decent and respected men and women not allowed themselves to be mesmerised into inaction while the Czarina dangled her hypnotic pendulum before their glassy eyes. I leave it to the experts and folks closer to the beast to explain this phonomenon.
In my humble opinion, the little fissure that first appeared shortly after the passing of Dr Cheddi Jagan in March 1997, was the beginning of what today is growing into this ever widening chasm that is now threatening to swallow this once magnificent political organization that has endured the test of time, overcome gargantuan obstacles, weathered the onslaught of behemoths, and prevailed against the greatest and gravest odds, both foreign and local. Why would grown men and women of the Central Committee and Executive Committee of the PPP allow themselves to act like a flock of hypnotized sheep in meekly accepting a so-called dying declaration of their late leader, Dr Jagan, that his widow, Janet should assume the mantle of leadership – a dictate that is devoid of all democratic norms and principles? Again, a second unchallenged barefaced assault on democracy was concocted and dropped in the lap of these men and women of the CC and EC when the so-called unprecedented ‘A’ Team of Janet, Bharrat and Sam was announced for the 1997 general election. And again, not as much as a squeak was heard from the comatose lot. The egg of a cuckoo was surreptitiously slipped into the nest of the robin, and the unsuspecting host took turns incubating the impostor therein. The first order of business for the new hatchling was to eliminate competition from the host’s own offspring, whereby Messrs Ramjattan, Nagamottoo, O’Lall, Chandarpal, Bissessar and many others were summarily evicted from the brood, and still no action from the comatose bunch. With every execution, the cuckoo chick and some of his surrogates gained strength, stature and momentum, to the point where they now feel emboldened to attack GAWU, the heart and soul of the PPP. Finally, there is a push back from some of the evicted. Would the voices of Navin Chandarpal, Moses Nagamootoo and Rajendra Bissessar be joined by others and morph into a thunderous roar, or would it fade into a whimpering snivel. I hope not. Is it a little too late to fight back? Not by a long shot! History is on the side of those with intestinal fortitude. It is time to separate real men and women from the rest. Let the people elect their leader and presidential candidate. It is said that ‘A stitch in time save nine.’
Yours faithfully,
Meharam Sugrim
