A MARKED dispensation of the post-election reality in Guyana is the level of negativity with which Guyanese view the previous PPP regime. We should be clear. There is no question that the PPP took Guyana to a new low and that members of the current leadership are of political and moral impropriety. The PPP lacks the moral authority on which to condemn transgressions by the APNU+AFC coalition. Defenders of the coalition will deflect criticisms of the coalition government by pointing to the PPP’s own excesses while in office. In his recent piece, Dr. David Hinds acknowledged that the Local Government Elections results reflected the racial divide between Indians and Africans. It is no secret that every election since 1957 has been a racial referendum. The problem with both the PNC and the PPP is that while the elections reflected racial bipolarity, the leadership of the two largest parties adamantly have traditionally argued that they represent multi-racial organisations. Both parties and their leaderships have lived a lie since independence.

Former President Jagdeo’s recent acknowledgement that the PPP will work to consolidate its support base should be seen as a progressive step in ethnic relations in Guyanese politics. To his credit, Jagdeo did not say the PPP is an “Indian party” that will represent “Indians only.” There is a big difference. In an ideal situation, a ruling coalition that represents legitimate representatives from all ethnic groups in some form of relationship would go a long way towards resolving our nagging racial problem.

Dr. Hinds believes our history began with President Jagdeo, despite the fact that we are celebrating 50 years of independence. Hinds has accused the PPP of being a racist party which pre-meditatively concocted a grand scheme to disenfranchise African-Guyanese. He concluded that this racist “mindset” ensured that “resources are disproportionately in the hands of one group” [Indians]. Hinds was more direct in a letter to KN…“African-Guyanese …dispossessed of ancestral lands will not take very lightly the transfer of state lands into the private hands of the East Indian elite.” The “mindset” Hinds is accusing the PPP of possessing seems to have been bought hook, line and sinker by others. Perhaps this is a pretext of things to come. His threat must be taken seriously.

Guyanese history did not begin with Jagdeo, though this seems to be a fashionable acceptance today. Hinds conveniently ignores an important fact, namely, that Dr. Clive Thomas reminded us the PNC controlled over 80% of the economy. The PPP’s dismantling and privatization of the PNC’s stranglehold on the nation’s economy no doubt benefited a handful of its loyal supporters. However, it should be emphasised that a small number of Indians benefited from this incestuous unofficial policy of the ruling PPP. The vast majority of Indians remain poor and powerless. The PPP made little effort to uplift this loyal constituency from its squalor, poverty and poor quality of life.

Either Dr. Hinds is swayed by a nationalistic fervour, or he is intentionally being intellectually dishonest. As a political scientist, he knows that the APNU+AFC government can weaken this group by creating a new supportive elite class by co-opting new members from the business community. Businessmen are typically economic opportunists and will hitch their wagons to the party they feel will safeguard their financial interests. If Hinds is concerned about who controls real power, he can rest assured that even while a small group of Indians remain wealthy, their wealth can easily be stripped away, as the Burnham experience has shown. He ignores the fact that throughout the PPP era, as is now, African dominance in the military and paramilitary forces, as well as the Civil Service, guarantees a preponderance of national power and security to Africans. This differential equation will not promote “balanced development” or advance “joint nationhood” in Guyana.

Finally, given the nature of ethnic politics in Guyana, political leaders are selected by their own supporters, rather than being imposed from outside their community. Hinds points to Freddie Kissoon as an Indian leader. However, Kissoon has used his media platform to wage relentless attacks against Indian leaders who have shown a penchant for addressing issues that affect them. I am not yet optimistic that the APNU+AFC government will be able to bridge the racial gap. But, blaming the PPP for not doing so, while pretending that the APNU+AFC is an all-inclusive government, will only preserve the status quo.

Sincerely,
Baytoram Ramharack