Dear Editor,
Elections are and will continue as an important aspect of our governance system. However, I don’t see “winner-take-all elections” as a forgone conclusion. Its inevitability is premised on the willingness of the major political parties and the Guyanese nation to continue that divisive form of governance that has failed the country and its people. This is not a new challenge since it was with us before independence and continues to the present. The issue at hand is whether we have learned the lessons of our history. Our present situation with oil/gas is a new reality with opportunities for progress or retrogression to use a mild word.
To rephrase, the discovery of oil and gas reserves presents us with a crossroads: these resources could either free us from the lingering negative impacts of slavery, indentureship, and colonization, or, considering our existing racial and political divisions, they could lead us towards self-destructive paths, as has been the case with numerous other oil-producing nations.
Drawing from my more than 50 years in political activism, I’ve come to believe that our elections are more akin to a racial census, offering limited democratic legitimacy and are, at best, suspect and questionable. Our national elections are far from embodying true freedom and fairness. However, for the purpose of this discussion, that particular aspect is not the main focus.
My worry centres on the governance that emerges from winner-take-all elections and its foreseeable outcomes of winners and losers. In our context, the consequences extend beyond political parties; entire racial communities end up on the losing side, paving the way for racial dominance in both political and economic spheres.
The ultimate resolution to these issues lies in the hands of the Guyanese people, through either their action or inaction. Political catalysts are essential to drive the nation towards a struggle for constitutional reform. This reform aims to shift the governance system to one of Executive power-sharing, thus putting an end to the pattern of elections characterized by “winners” and “losers.”
Considering the political landscape and our established history, the impetus for constitutional reform must originate from the African community. We need to declare to both the nation and the world that we are breaking away from the post-independence consensus on our governance system, committing instead to a novel approach to governance. This shift in the country’s governance system is long overdue.
For the African community, we find ourselves at a critical juncture – time is not our ally. Holding less than 10% of the economy, coupled with the massive influx of oil revenue and its impact on the economy, as well as the prevailing logic of PPP governance marked by its economic and political dominance, our future appears grim. Immediate action is imperative! This means a new approach to African politics, one that ensures our access to executive power and a share in the oil wealth. This is essential to start liberating our people from the shackles of poverty and from being politically and socially marginalized. In the era of oil, our focus must primarily be on economic and social upliftment.
Our unwavering stance should be that the wealth generated from oil and gas must be utilized to rectify historical injustices within the country that have adversely affected our people.
In closing, to achieve these objectives African masses must be sensitized and mobilized, first in their communities: making a clear political statement on where they stand. The “battle cry” must be no to winner-take-all elections- Constitutional reform now.
Yours sincerely,
Tacuma Ogunseye
