Dear Editor,
After reading Mr. Bisram’s letter on politicians in Guyana and U.S. (U.S.’s held accountable, Guyana’s not) and Mr. Emile Mervin’s online comment, my interest on the subject was piqued. It would be nice to have a 25-page comprehensive comparative study of the issues – U.S. and Guyana. There are similarities, as well as differences.
However, I wish to offer a 287-word comment as follows: Both societies are (today) highly polarized. Guyana had been this way for a long time – always a struggle for power between Indians and Africans. In the last 25-years with an ascendant rightwing media – Fox News, Hannity, Limbaugh etc., the U.S. has also become highly polarized. Trump took it to the extreme – he empowered White Supremacists and even mainstream Republicans have joined up with WS. (At least 5-WS groups participated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol).
In polarized societies, it is hard to hold politicians accountable – those who violated statutory laws as well as the Constitution. This is the reason why both Granger and Trump are beating the charges. (It is unlikely Trump will be convicted on the I-charges). Granger had violated the Constitution – but he was never brought up on impeachment charges of violating the Constitution. Trump was unfit to be president, but the Primary System failed to winnow him out. He beat out 16 other primary candidates. RNC and DNC should adopt eligibility rules: (a) candidates must release income tax returns; (b) candidates must possess previous experience in elective office – Mayor, gov, congress. (Such rules would have eliminated Trump). Impeachment charges should be held in a Constitutional Court, not by a 100-member Senate. (Party loyalty rules the Senate; Senators could never be impartial jurors).
Guyana needs to do something about its racially-divided society. Perceived ethnic parties and excessively high rates of racial voting work against the evolution of a genuine democracy in a largely bi-racial society
Sincerely,
Mike Persaud
