Dear Editor,
I deliberated as to whether I should, and tormented myself before writing this now.
Since I was a pre-teen boy I remember going to political meetings in my village. I would force myself among the adults to see and listen to politicians during election campaigns. Names that I remember are Theophilus Lee, Forbes Burnham, Jesse Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Derek Jagan, Brindley Benn, Daniel Debidin, and a few others. I was a simpleton but inquisitive; some say ‘force-ripe’; one teacher (Patrick Mootoo) said I was precocious, and I thought that was an insult.
That was in the mid 1950s. The people – all races – of my village were supporters of the PPP. After the unfortunate split of the PPP, race surfaced as a critical factor; generally Indians supported the PPP Jaganite faction, Africans supported the PPP Burnhamite faction. There was no animosity. People continued to live as people should – showing respect and lending a helping hand any time. I still remember my school mates of both races with fond memories.
I supported the PPP of Cheddi Jagan (by default). Throughout my growing-up years I was engaged in simple political activities: attended PYO meetings (which was short-lived), discussed politics with a few individuals (Nauth aka O, Churchill, Balwa, TT Gocool), even though we were simpletons, relatively speaking. I read The West on Trial first edition (sneaking it from my cha-cha’s room).
As I matured and had to move to Georgetown (Wellington & Robb Streets) from my unalloyed Leguan island for educational advancement, I made regular visits to Freedom House and Michael Forde Bookshop. I bought and borrowed books on politics. I read all of Cheddi Jagan’s books, and continued reading his writings…. During my early years in George-town, I met occasionally with a few young PPP stalwarts, in particular two in my age group – Feroze Mohammed and Moses Nagamootoo. I continued to follow social and political activities during my early working/student life at UG and ever after, even after my flight to New York. On my trips to Guyana, I would go to PPP meetings during election times – in George-town, Kitty, Festival City, the Corentyne, observed unofficially at polling stations, and waited at Freedom House when results were called in. I remember the affable Raymond Kudrath (deceased) from London, who would join me.
At the 1998 PPP Congress in Zeeburg I listened to Donald Ramotar’s most impressive report; and what a powerful speech from the General Secretary! There I renewed many contacts, including Harry Ramdass who was the returning officer. Janet Jagan received the most popular votes followed by Moses Nagamootoo. The mandate implied that Nagamootoo should be the choice for the presidential candidacy. It was therefore a surprise when Bharrat Jagdeo was selected by the top echelons at Freedom House, those who were referred to by Joey-J as the “gang…”. Something sinister took place then and there for reasons best known to them but not revealed to the PPP supporters or the public. I developed a reserved estrangement but continued to support the PPP because, in the circumstance of race-based politics, the option would be worse considering the history of experienced riggers. Sadly, the choice was delimited!
Over time the PPP had begun to experience a mild internal decay. The old guard – Gail Teixeira, Donald Ramotar, Ralph Ramkarran, Clement Rohee, Roger Luncheon, Chandarpal, and a few others – did not object to anything, so it seemed, or kept silent, went along with things as usual, and thus they were complicit. Yea, the silence of good people! The new ‘vanguard’ assumed control of the PPP ship that began to float in different revisionist directions, with new friends on board – friends seemingly good, some questionable characters, some hangers-on. This appeared heretical and antithetical to the core objectives of the foundational PPP. Lots of things occurred, but I fast forward….
The relatively unknown Bharrat Jagdeo, quiet, shy and somewhat sheepish, quickly learned the tricks of the trade. He adopted the stance of captain, first mate, engineer, and chief cook and bottle washer (using common parlance). He soon formed unholy alliances – a network of associates and sidekicks – in Guyana and in New York especially, mostly unpalatable for the orthodox. There were some professionals and business people who were eyeing and hoping for special appointments and contracts, details of which better left unsaid.
The old guard of the Association of Concerned Guyanese (ACG) died a slow and painful death. The new-bees contained many square pegs in round holes. In this way the sacrificed ‘comrades’ were alienated. I knew almost all of the people, but I chose my friends carefully. Jagdeo’s nouveau riche and wannabees were not altruistic by any standard. Of note also is the fact that Cheddi Jagan never forgot the people in Region 11; he always held townhall meetings whenever he visited or was in-transit in New York. This was eliminated by the new breed. So were the A-Team meetings during election campaigns.
From this preamble, it was clear to me for many years now that the new PPP had moved away from its original objectives, its ideology and its modus operandi. Recall, Cheddi Jagan was kept in the political wilderness by the big western powers because of his overt socialist stance. This is well documented. But Jagan was not a doctrinaire socialist and, despite his emotional rhetoric sometimes, his bark was more that the bite. He embraced nonpartisan politics. He believed in multiculturalism. His activism was for peace. He never promoted racism. And he wrote prolifically on these subjects. Jagan supported the policy for a mixed economy – private, state and public – in all aspects of the growth and development of Guyana. But alas, his dreams were not realized…. And usurpers took a foothold in the vacuum, not by happenstance, but by other devious means deemed necessary for their pursuits. Researchers and commentators may address this.
Still, the new leadership of the PPP would mouth slogans of being for the people, for the working class. It would amiss of me not acknowledge the fact that under the PPP (Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar), Guyana vibrated with significant development in all fields (compared to the 28 years of PNC misrule). For example, debt forgiveness, reduction of foreign deficit, affordable housing schemes, press freedom, free elections, and the overall improved quality of life for the citizens. However, certain disparities lingered vis-a-vis the widening gap between the rich and poor. Also, the perception (or reality) of corruption in relation to jobs and contracts has not been nullified or blotted out. The stigma still haunts.
Old PNC deals – Barama, Omai and UNAMCO remained entrenched. The reckless pursuit of privatization – Omai, Barama and many foreign investments – did not augur well for Guyana. Guyana’s pristine resources saw environmental devastation while Guyana received no economic benefits. All of these continued under the stewardship of Bharrat Jagdeo and the born-again PPP. Jagdeo apparently was the foremost propagator in these dalliances, big business and current Big Oil refer.
Then came the big shocker that validated my fears. Donald Ramotar, the longest serving General Secretary of the PPP (1997-2013) made a categorical statement in a letter (SN, September 2021) that the PPP is “no longer Marxist/Leninist”. The words, contained therein, of Donald Ramotar, Ralph Ramkaran and Clement Rohee suggest that they are all floundering; probably to dissociate themselves and the PPP from the socialist bogey. Are they lost like a ship in the huge seas without a rudder? Trying to find justification for being “people-centred”? Are they taking orders? There are many conflicted sentiments that leave questions with serious ambivalence and equivocation. What seems clear to me is that there is a deliberate shift from a “people-centred” policy to a modality of lust and greed that are systemic in neoliberalism – the preoccupation of “growth” and profit at all costs – thus negating the time-honoured tenets for the great good of humanity and planet.
The present cadres should now disown the PPP. Better still, the aforementioned should not use the name of the PPP since they have abandoned the ideology and precepts of the PPP and its Constitution. They go back to the drawing board and really read The West on Trial.
Yours truly,
Gary Girdhari
