Dear Editor,
During the last several years of the PPP’s tenure in office, the party began to develop a strange anti-Americanism. Like myself, analysts I conversed with could not understand why the PPP went down this road. Political analysts (in and out of Guyana) I conversed with could not make sense of the PPP’s stance on varied domestic policies as well as international issues, especially during the Ramotar presidency (that was a minority government which should have worked collaboratively with the then opposition and the ABC countries).
The friendly relationship that business magnate Yesu Persaud, other businessmen, myself and pro-American advocates had helped the PPP (through the late Dr Jagan) cultivate with the US (UK and Canada) was undermined over the last decade. Yes, Dr Persaud was instrumental in transforming the anti-American (and anti-business) attitude of Dr Jagan and the PPP and aiding in the return of the PPP to office in 1992. Analysts, including myself, concluded in private discussions held last year July, that the PPP’s days in office were being numbered for its anti-American attitude. I even penned a missive on this topic exactly a year ago and published the findings of an opinion poll revealing a very strong desire among Guyanese for friendly relations with America as well as support for the US LEAD project that was opposed by the PPP. Guyanese in the US also have supported close relations with their home country, going back to the 1970s. Guyanese long to settle in or visit the US. There are more Guyanese in America than in Guyana. Guyanese Americans also found the PPP’s animosity towards America strange, especially since the PPP leadership frequently visited the US to seek financial assistance for the party from supporters.
The PPP forgot the all-powerful influence of the US in hemispheric relations and the significant role that the US played in toppling the PPP from office in 1964. The PPP must have also forgotten that it was the US that restored democracy in Guyana in 1992 and made it possible for the PPP to return to office through free and fair elections. Dr Jagan forgave the US for its part in toppling him from office and proceeded to transform US-PPP relations. He pursued relations that led to enormous US goodwill towards Guyana. But following his death, his political children ‘bil-a-way’ (as we say in village parlance) the goodwill that Jagan acquired during his tenure as president. It was Dr Persaud (in my presence) at the Gopio convention at the Sheraton in New York in 1989 who advised Jagan to change his anti-American attitude. Initially calling Dr Persaud a bourgeois and resisting the advice, Dr Jagan came around embracing the business leader’s position by 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Dr Persaud accompanied Dr Jagan at several meets with the business community and US diplomats and policy-makers. It took Jagan 28 years to change his attitude towards the US that resulted in the restoration of democracy in Guyana, and in 16 years, his political children failing to understand the consequences of anti-Americanism, undermined the relationship. In Guyanese parlance, those who don’t learn lessons of history and refuse to heed warnings “must feel”.
The ruling party, particularly over the last five years, had become hostile to the US (to the point of launching a personal attack on the US Ambassador when he was leaving the country) without justifiable reason. It was noted that the US had not taken an anti-Guyana or anti-PPP position in its bilateral or diplomatic relations or at international forums. Guyana was supported with a massive injection of international aid and loans and debt cancellations. The Bush administration had increased aid to Guyana. Also, Guyanese have had a favourable view of America since the 1980s with much of the population wanting to migrate there or wishing that Guyana could become part of the US. Yet, there was the ruling PPP over the last five years launching broadsides against the US.
The party had also begun to attack even harmless, benevolent critics of its policies and business people (like Dr Persaud) and professionals (like myself) who disagreed with its decision-making and positions on various issues. It was also noted that the independent media (SN and KN, in particular) were the target of much venom especially for critiquing the anti-American position. Relations between America and Guyana under the Ramotar administration became tattered beyond repair, as it seemed that the PPP was looking for any excuse to fire broadsides at the US.
The US Ambassador was the target of scathing attacks with the PPP sending a Minister to attack the US Ambassador at his home on Independence Day celebrations. The attack on the Ambassador angered Guyanese Americans who found it unjustified and who wanted closer relations with the US. It seemed that the Ramotar administration was strengthening relations with China, Venezuela, Cuba, and Russia, all the nemesis of the US, at the expense of closer relations with Washington. The PPP was linking itself with an anti-American axis that naturally irked the US. It should be noted that Dr Persaud was personally attacked for unjustifiable reason as were several other well respected members of the business community. Even long-time party members like Moses Nagamootoo and Ralph Ramkarran were excommunicated for criticizing the direction the party was taking. The party also broke with business magnate BK Tiwari, one of its key financiers and supporters, and several other prominent business people at the height of the re-election campaign. And the party also ran into problems with several professionals and even grass-roots supporters and its overseas based support groups that splintered supporting the AFC when Nagamootoo left. Many Guyanese Americans felt the PPP needed a wake-up call by booting it out of office, and as such they supported the change that took place in May. They felt the PPP had lost its way during the Ramotar presidency making re-election virtually impossible and that change was necessary. At any rate, the behaviour of the party leadership suggested it wanted to be removed from office tiring from governing uninterrupted for over 22 years.
The PPP has been drifting towards political oblivion for its anti-Americanism. Guyanese Americans as well as political analysts and the business community within Guyana feel it will remain out of office for a long time to come unless it mends its anti-American ways. It is also felt that the party needs to pursue reforms similar to those recommended to Dr Jagan by Dr Persaud and others to re-attract those who left and who felt alienated.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
