Dear Editor,
Thank you Stabroek News for speaking for us in your editorial on what happened at the Pandit’s funeral; I was there and I fully share your opinion. Mr Jagdeo’s tribute at Pandit Reep’s funeral was a classic display of hypocrisy and self-belief in the superiority of one’s own opinion over others.
I was in the audience and it sickened me to witness this release of verbal bitterness from someone who clearly should know better. There I was with my family and others, all mentally prepared for some nice satsang and some appropriate scriptures to suit the occasion and ‘baddam,’ the man stood up to offer some words. Did no one ever teach him about time and place? Shame on Mr Jagdeo.
The overwhelming majority of the audience were people of East Indian origin and were mainly Hindu, all in their white kurtas, saris and shalwars, to pay respect to a man who added value to their lives. We did not go there to listen to the bigoted opinion of anyone.
I want to advise the PPP: as Hindus, we know our history, we know our religion, we know who did what to us and we know someone who tries to parade as a Hindu. We are not goats and sheep to be corralled into a pen and preached to as if we are ten year olds about what we should think. We are too intelligent for that type of nonsense; this time nah lang time!
As a Hindu who did not vote in the last elections out of disgust at the mass corruption and discrimination against Hindus by the Jagdeo regime, I firmly believe that Mr Jagdeo is not competent to lecture on any subject as a result of the way he lives his life; worst of all on the topic of racism when my relative suffered personally from discrimination during his period of office.
It is my family who were sold a mud lot (they call it a house lot) in the mud of Good Hope Phase 3 at a premium price, but with no road, no light and no water. It is my family, all East Indians, who during the rainy season have to walk out to the front of Good Hope in long boots and then clean the mud off their feet, put their socks and shoes on and go to school and work.
However, when he was building his fortress, before even a spade was turned, the government found the resources to complete the roads, the drains, run the water lines and electricity. The Pradoville group got all of this although they all purchased their developed land at a deep, deep discount. That is plain and simple discrimination against my family who are all East Indians. Did the PNC do this to my family? No, this was done by the Jagdeo PPP regime.
I have another cousin who works at GuySuCo for $57,000 per month with three children. His wife has to plant every available spot in their small yard and rear chickens, and he has to catch fish when he can, to be able to feed his family.
If it was not for the Christmas barrel, I do not know where those children would have gotten some proper clothing. That is an East Indian family that always voted for the PPP except for 2011. Why did they not vote this time? Clearly the fees his two daughters have to pay to cross the Berbice River to access a proper education played a key role and the state of the sugar belt also definitely helped.
My cousin said to me, “Burnham build the Demerara Harbour Bridge and ask all Guyanese to pay $100 per crossing; Jagdeo build Berbice Bridge and demand $2,200 from the poor people; where is the fairness?” Who discriminated against these Berbicians again? Mr Jagdeo and the PPP.
Our only weapon against Mr Jagdeo’s political antics is the vote, and we as former card-carrying members of the PPP are 110% behind Cde Moses Nagamootoo in the 2015 elections. So Mr Jagdeo can flounce, he can ‘cuss,’ but none of it matters, since the Jagdeo PPP of today has abandoned the principles of the beloved father of the nation, Dr Cheddi Jagan.
So to answer Mr Jagdeo’s question – “How are we going to ensure that the things Pandit fought for; that Cheddi Jagan fought for, that every person in this land should be treated in a dignified way regardless of their race or their religion?” ‒ my answer is to vote the Jagdeoites out of office and vote for Cde Moses Nagamootoo. When we put the ‘X’ next to the key we will say – “This wan’ fuh’ you’ pa!”
Yours faithfully,
Vevek Mahadeo
