Dear Editor,
As the disgust fades-like everything else-over the recent Manickchand Manoeuvre at the Independence Day reception, it is timely to examine what prompted the premeditated histrionics. What could compel someone, anyone, to commit to being the spear carrier for such a dirty, but welcomed, assignment, to stoop so low?
For starters, there is now the entrenched belief among powerful PPP veterans that Janet Jagan’s experiment has backfired horribly and failed miserably; that the Jagdeo ascendancy has been real bad and destructive for both the party and the country. The country, however, is not of pressing concern; it is the party’s hegemony and longevity that are of paramount importance, and what is imperiled. Not surprisingly, the word and loud whispers from within the party and on the street is that there is a concerted movement on against the Jagdeo people, the Jagdeo brand of thinking, and the Jagdeo modus vivendi.
At the same time, the Jagdeo gang-entrenched and formidable-which owes it prosperous, many times scandalous, existence to their powerful master will do anything (repeat, anything) to maintain their lucrative and influential places, while awaiting his return. Thus what occurred at the Ambassador’s residence should not be surprising in the least. This earns recognition where it counts most –from the godfather and onetime Sun King. Remember: they will do anything.
Both master and crass followers see unacceptable and traitorous retreat and surrender on the LEAD project and the announced DEA presence. Both decided that throwing a long dead dog amidst the delicacies would rally the faithful, undermine the anti-Jagdeo people, and embarrass them before the ABC powers. Clearly, that is the wrong fight to pick, while using the wrong approach, and against the wrong adversary. It is simply not winnable.
As if the internal conflicts were not enough trouble already, the anti-Jagdeo stalwarts (and the PPP in general) find themselves caught in the pincer of Charybdis and Scylla: On the one hand, there is the Jagdeo faction bent on wreaking havoc to facilitate its dominance in the party at any cost, and on the other, there is the opposition with its threatened and pending no-confidence vote. This has to be the bottom of the bottom, a dreadful Tequila Sunrise for the old-timers, and reinforcements are desperately needed. Others have disagreed, but I believe that those reinforcements are waiting for the asking.
It is my belief that estranged (notice –not Ex) PPP comrades are always prepared to retrace steps toward home base. This is because of the hardwiring in their political and individual genes. Charitably put, this is the fluid nature of local politics. Pick any time and the incontestable facts are that PPP men crossed over to the PNC; UF people gravitated to the PNC; and now PNC/UF people have circled all the way back to the PPP. This is the local version of power to the people. The more parties change, the more people change. It is what succeeds and rewards at the individual level in Guyana.
In view of this ease of movement-and elasticity of principle and character-how much more seamless and simpler for the estranged and disappointed prodigals to return to the fold and shore it up in this struggle for the party’s direction, if not its soul. Read my lips and mark my words….
So behind the minister’s bluster, there is much cleverness and implacable interests at work. I wait to see how Darwinian this will get.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
