Dear Editor,
The long-awaited Constitutional Reform Commission has been sworn in, with an unclear mandate on how far-reaching the process will go in reforming the constitution. What matters is the will of the people, not the intentions of the government. Unfortunately, Guyana lacks a unified public opinion on political and national issues, with African and Indian perspectives predominantly shaping public discourse. Within this context, this letter aims to express an African viewpoint on constitutional reform.
The constitutional reform process must end winner-take-all governance for good in Guyana. Nothing short of that is acceptable. The continuation of the old system is an existential threat to African Guyanese exclusion in the country. And time is not on our side. Our post-independence governance system has failed the nation. In the present reality of oil/gas, with Africans owning less than 10% of the economy, we are faced with a situation unprecedented in modern history. This writer takes the position that the African condition is one of profound crisis that could lead to a “new form of enslavement” if appropriate actions are not taken to reverse the situation by our community inclusive of the political, cultural, and religious fields, sports leadership, and grassroots organizations.
From this point of view, any talk of contesting the next general elections under the present winner-take electoral arrangements without first waging a major struggle to change the governance system is a “betrayal” of our people’s fundamental interest and is nothing short of visionless leadership. The leadership of Africans must acknowledge our critical juncture as a community and as part of the Guyanese nation. I have often stated, and I reiterate, that “Guyana has become hostile to African interests.” Consequently, we should retract our support for the longstanding political consensus on national governance established post-independence. Such a step is crucial for aligning with African interests and, by extension, the national interest at this pivotal moment in our history. A nation cannot thrive when half its population controls less than 10% of the economy.
The positions of the PPP and the government clearly aim to perpetuate the dominance of the ruling party and its racial constituency. This intent was highlighted by the recent report that implicated the government in the UN Human Rights Commission. The current PPP leadership shows no commitment to leveraging the newfound oil and gas wealth to address historical injustices rooted in slavery and colonialism. As Africans, we must reject this governance model, which continues to deny justice to Africans, who have been historically oppressed through 250 years of enslavement and the subsequent loss of generational wealth. This ongoing denial significantly contributes to our present economic and social difficulties. Any leader, whether African or Indian, who disregard this issue, is unfit to govern on behalf of the African community or the Guyanese nation.
Instead of addressing core issues, their approach is to distribute handouts to pro-PPP African-Guyanese organizations that were likely established by the PPP itself, requiring these groups to demonstrate their loyalty before receiving any support. For me personally the battle line is drawn on the present political engagement, that is, the end of winner-takes-all governance before the next elections. This was a major goal articulated in the WPA’s approach to the local government elections and remains so from my end for the crucial national elections.
Sincerely,
Tacuma Ogunseye
