Dear Editor,
In the field of human endeavour there are always winners and losers, that’s just how it is, and in the elections just concluded there will be winners and some among us will lose. Elections have consequences and soon many people who took a casual approach to Monday’s elections will have to live with their decision.
The PPP/C may have won the presidency but it failed to get a mandate. The opposition APNU and AFC combined, campaigning on almost identical platforms of PPP/C excesses, corruption, nepotism and poor governance, were given the mandate by the people. The APNU which in less than one year has been transformed from a seemingly dysfunctional grouping to a national movement won the hearts and minds of the populace and as the results (as presently constituted) clearly show Guyanese want inclusive governance, or a government of national unity.
The drug lords whose money was so corrupting and who compromised our security services, will secure a victory if a President Ramotar lacks the moral fortitude to go after them. Nothing in his past has shown such strength, so in the absence of a Granger presidency, I say, the drug boys win.
The people with the most to lose in this election are the African supporters of the opposition and minorities. If the PPP/C is allowed to continue on a path to complete triumphalism, and the wealth of the nation is not equitably distributed, then minorities become a permanent underclass and they lose. However this group now has some leverage and can agitate for a new dispensation. They should insist that there is constitutional reform that leads to a separation of powers and enshrined rights for minorities and some form of affirmative action. They should demand that government contracts are fairly awarded and that women and non-Indian contractors get a fair share of all major contracts. They must insist that radio and television licences are issued to them and government control of the media becomes a thing of the past. Last and by no means least they should demand that there be a budget set aside or a special development fund aimed at rescuing the unusually high percentage of Guyanese living in poverty.
If the political class fails to meet these very reasonable demands, then this now vocal majority must exercise their collective power and call for a vote of no confidence in the government.
Finally, it will be a travesty and all Guyana will lose if the AFC joins forces with the PPP/C. This will not only be a betrayal of the core supporters of the AFC, but put the lie to everything that that party campaigned for. There is much that can be salvaged by the losers of the presidency in this election, if they hold their leaders feet to the fire and demand the change they voted for and a majority of Guyanese on Monday signed off on. Obviously the struggle continues. The fat lady is yet to sing, and this thing is far from over.
Yours faithfully,
Mark Archer
