Dear Editor,
In a recent letter, Mr Sase Singh disagreed with a statement that I had previously made, calling it “hogwash.” I had said that, “Pro-democracy leaders will agree that positive change in Guyana must begin with the PPP’s removal from office.” Editor, I stand by my declaration. “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” Those famous words were spoken by Frederick Douglass, a slave who escaped tyranny and went on to became a legendary thinker, author and statesman. As it is, the current PPP is irrevocably dictatorial.
Editor, to think that all Guyanese want change would be a misconception. The occupants of Pradoville’s mansions have no desire for change. Politicians who drive BMWs purchased with bribes and kickbacks have no appetite for reconstruction; they are comfortable in the lap of luxury. Instead, it is the poor; the single mothers; the unemployed fathers; the school-leavers who have ambitions, but no money for university tuition who need betterment and remedy. Since the PPP is the party in power, and as its officials have no motivation to reform, it follows that the regime must be dethroned before development may begin.
Editor, the current PPP has never made even a small concession towards democratic governance. Instead, its actions have become increasingly authoritarian and secretive. The regime no longer bargains with trade unions; it now imposes salaries at its own discretion. Officials now shamelessly appoint their unqualified relatives to technically demanding posts. State contracts are now used as a vehicle to enrich their friends and cronies. And ministers of government openly threaten citizens without facing sanction. Does anyone truly expect them to spontaneously reverse course and suddenly become honest, contrite and transparent? Professor Clive Thomas recently said that the regime’s actions represent, “a departure from the norms of state governance.” Of course, this may not be a new development.
Editor, the regime’s latest foray into totalitarianism is the President’s suspension of parliamentary democracy. As it is now, citizens have no representation in government. For all intents and purposes, the state is being run from Freedom House, exclusively for the benefit of the ruling elite. Editor, can we realistically expect the dictators to do an about-face and give up any of that ground? If the current PPP is unwilling to make even a single, small concession, we cannot expect the regime to concede the entire slate. Which brings us to the final point: elections.
For over two decades the regime has refused to hold constitutionally mandated local government polls. Recently, the President has thwarted the will of people for general elections, by effectively castrating parliament. We all know that if he allows elections, the ruling clique risks losing everything: the power, the chauffeured vehicles, the overseas trips and perhaps most importantly, diplomatic immunity. Editor, the question is, will they take that risk? Will the President announce a date knowing that his party’s officials may face investigations, embarrassment, or worse?
Guyanese should think carefully about these facts. Leaders too must avoid complacency; they must prepare for the worst. Pro-democracy leaders may be well advised to refocus their energies from election campaigning to mobilising citizens, supporters and groups. Time spent trying to win the votes of individuals may be better spent meeting with civil society leaders, activists and religious representatives. Pro-democracy leaders must work to recruit allies across the Guyanese landscape. Efforts expended fighting for party leadership positions, may be better used strategising and planning for the inevitable struggle for democratic renewal. Leaders must begin to think of ways to undermine the regime’s support base and cut off its sources of power. Pro-democracy leaders must appeal to Guyana’s business class; they must convince those who have finances that anything gained by supporting a dictatorial regime cannot last. Dictators always abandon their enablers when they have no further use for their money.
Make no mistake, democratic reform cannot occur as long as the current regime exists. And since the regime knows that elections threaten that existence, Guyanese may expect to have to struggle to get it.
Yours faithfully,
Mark DaCosta
