Dear Editor,
The decision of President Irfaan Ali to swear in the members of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Integrity Commission (IC) without consultation with the Leader of the Opposition as required by the constitution was predictable and consistent with the known PPP/C’s governance strategy based on the doctrine that “might is right”.
Now the gauntlet is thrown down. The next move of the opposition is in the courts. There has been an indication that the Opposition Leader Mr Aubrey Norton will be heading to court. This action was known to the President before he made his appointments to the PSC and IC commissions. But it will be a political mistake for the opposition to rely merely on the courts to stop this dictatorial aggression by the PPP/C regime. As matters stand: this is a fight of “wills” – Ali/Jagdeo have made their move demonstrating a willingness to engage in a political confrontation on this matter of consultation with the Opposition Leader as required by the constitution. Norton has to respond by a show of equal will.
There is no magic in democracy since it works only when those in power are willing to abide by the rules and accept their limitations to power. The PPP/C has long demonstrated their commitment to dictatorial governance and disregard for the constitution and has gotten away with this retrogressive conduct, given the weakness in the nation’s political culture and the post 2020 elections support from the diplomatic community. The lack of self-organization of the masses and the failure of the political opposition and civic society forces to come up with an appropriate response have contributed to the one-sided muscle flexing by the rulers. In Guyana, there is no restraining factor, politically or otherwise. The nation will wake up one day to learn that the President has unilaterally made his appointment of Chancellor and Chief Justice.
In a social/political situation where there are few, or weak institutions or cultures to enforce rules by sanctioning the political behaviour of politicians in power it often leads to a dictatorship rather than democracy. Guyana is once again at that place where the people have lost their collective power in governance due to race/political divisions, and the failure of the political opposition and civic society forces to learn from the lessons of history.
I end with the observation that until the nation collectively establishes red lines to restrain political authoritarianism we will have to accept the reality of dictatorial governance as the work of our own doing.
Yours sincerely,
Tacuma Ogunseye
