STABROEK News carried a letter on 27th August, entitled “The Local Government Commission is another casualty of executive lawlessness,” signed by Gail Teixeira, which addressed this government’s failure to establish the commission.

Teixeira and none of those who held office in the PPP are qualified to speak about executive lawlessness without serious review of their performance. It was Desmond Hoyte, as Leader of the Opposition, who made popular the phrase, given the PPP/C Government’s brazen and unabashed contempt for the rule of law.

PPP/C executive lawlessness transcended from compromised elections, misappropriation and mismanagement of government finances, death squads, narco militarisation, economic genocide in the African community, kickbacks and so many wicked things under the sun. Their executive lawlessness knew no bounds, but this does not make any excuse for this government’s. Such conduct must inform why we must hold all governments accountable, for when in opposition they climb on the moral perch and in government if not held in check will run riot on us. This must serve as an eye opener and we must come together and hold these governments accountable.

The good news Teixeira’s letter serves is to sharpen our awareness that the PPP was fully aware of their violations as a government. At the same time, the APNU+AFC Government needs to take serious review of her claims, the veracity of which can be easily proven. Local government is an important element in our governance system. In the absence of the commission, the minister undermines grassroots democracy by usurping the authority, role and responsibilities of this institution where he or she can make decisions that can create problems among political operatives, persons employed in the local government authorities, and the management of these councils

The failure of the PPP to appoint this commission and to do many things that are just and fair questions the party’s sincerity as an Opposition. They are proving that governance for them is about being in government, pulling the levers of power, and abusing the privilege the people granted them.

Accountable  
As the Opposition, the PPP has a right to hold the government to account and must continue to do so, but persons will continue to question whether there is any level of sincerity in what they are doing. While in government, many issues pertaining to good governance were brought to their attention and rather than seeking to correct them they had attacked the messengers, talked down to the society, and denied citizens access to state resources in various forms, yet today Teixeira and others become voices of reason, guiding a moral compass.

The behaviour these leaders are demonstrating indicates that they were aware what they were doing was wrong and repulsive to good governance, proving that they being placed in the opposition was justly earned. It is hypocritical for Teixeira and others to tell us today what the APNU+AFC government is doing is wrong without first and foremost being held to account for the devastation they had committed on the moral fabric of this nation.  As a trade unionist, I remain ever mindful of the marginalisation of workers and instigated division in the movement to further their political control on the masses and keep them impoverished.

These calls being made by Gail and others in the PPP leadership are acts of sanitising themselves for the atrocities they have committed on the people. The sad part is that the APNU+AFC government is aiding and abetting such posturing since the errors they continue to make should have never been made in the first instance. This group was elected to do better and having witnessed the repulsive record of the PPP and the pains it inflicted on the society, should not have embraced any of its shenanigans.

Microscope
Every politician, elected to public office, shall be put under the microscope because they are expected to operate consistent with the Guyana Constitution and desires of the people. There shall be no sacred cow in my book and what was wrong under the PPP cannot be right now. Over the 23 years the PPP was in office the people got licks left, right and centre. Those who were afraid to talk cowered, ran or joined the band of giggy multitude in that party’s leadership. This period remains painful and has left a bitter taste in our mouths, because too many sought silence as the atrocities mounted and lawlessness overwhelmed the society.

Guyanese will remember when Jagdeo came to office as president the euphoria in the society was ‘here comes a young man, move aside, and give him a chance.’ As this relatively young man’s activities were put under the microscope, yours truly and others critical of his performance were systemically marginalised, even by mainstream media. At the end of his stewardship there exists a record where independent Guyana has seen the largest group of citizens extra judicially murdered, state institutions undermined or not allowed to perform. In fact, we saw executive lawlessness at its highest.

We must learn from this bitter experience and don’t wait for another 23 years to tell those in government when they are on the wrong path. This society must reach the level of consciousness and maturity to nip any problem of governance in the bud, only in this manner would growth and development take place, the ordinary man and woman can have a fair share of the nation’s pie and be treated with deserving respect and dignity.

Let me say to those who are saying they care about this government and want it to remain in office, getting vex with those who are holding them to account and failing to hold them in check when they deviate from ethical practices and respect for the rule of law, you are aiding and abetting their removal. You cannot care about somebody, a group or society and watch them destroy themselves, you are fooling them and yourselves.