Dear Editor,
We read in the Stabroek News on February 16, 2018, that there was a massive Rupununi outreach by politicians from the PNC+AFC Group. According to Minister Joseph Harmon, some 28 villages in Rupununi were visited by this platoon of government officials. We were reliably advised that a convoy of trucks filled with foodstuff and other goodies engaged in distribution free of cost to the poor in the region. But the question is why now?
Before December 21, 2018 when the no-confidence motion was passed, no one in the government was interested in the welfare of the people of the Rupununi. No such outreaches were done in 2016, 2017 and 2018? In those days, these careerist politicians preferred outreaches to international conferences in exotic locations overseas like the World Tamil Conference in India and the World Mercury Conference in Switzerland which yielded very little return on the dollar for the Guyanese people. They had no time for the people of the Rupununi or the poor in any other part of the country.
Clearly, their generosity has resulted from Charrandass Persaud who voted in favour of the no-confidence motion. But yet these officials still have the gall to ignore the constitution with their “jumbie” arithmetic that 34 votes and not 33 are needed to remove the government from office. But based on our knowledge of history such dangerous precedent and impropriety will redound to their disadvantage. When in opposition, this government which had a one-seat majority in Parliament had threatened to call a no-confidence motion. Fearful that his government would be toppled, President Ramotar dissolved Parliament and in January 2015 called elections.
At the time, there was no discussion or dispute on the part of the APNU and AFC that 34 votes would be needed to remove the PPP from office. Therefore, their assumption that 34 votes are needed to remove them from office is both silly and ridiculous.
Today the nation is observing some very dishonourable actions from Team Granger and there is only one outcome. Whenever an election is called, the people will act accordingly and then deal with them condignly at the ballot box. It was done before and it shall be done again.
In a free and democratic society such as ours, no one should be above the law and everyone, including the ruling elite should respect the constitution. Providing food for the poor and needy in Rupununi is good but it should not be done in return for political support. The truth is there should be no attempt to bribe people to support a political party that they would otherwise not support. It’s that simple. As Thomas Jefferson put it, “To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical”.
Again, when in opposition, this government, especially those in the AFC severely criticized the PPP/C government for allegedly using taxpayer resources to gain votes, but it seems that they are doing the same now. What hypocrisy is this? It was not good for the goose then but it is good for the gander now? If it was wrong on ethical and moral grounds then, it is also wrong today.
But the Guyanese people are smart; they know these political elites are up to no good. They know that they have failed to deliver on their manifesto promises and are now trying to foist themselves on the people using any and every means possible, including messing with the people’s mind, the constitution and even the Courts.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Asquith Rose and
Sasenarine Singh
