I HAVE occasionally, in these pages, spoken out against what I felt was shabby treatment by the PPP of some of its most devoted stalwarts, including Moses Nagamootoo. I still feel the same way.Further, I think that were issues addressed in ways conducive to compromise and not friction, Nagamootoo would today still be one of the foremost voices within the PPP, and could very well be their presidential candidate for the upcoming elections.
Sadly, that is not the case today. Now, with the latest political alliance between the APNU and AFC, Guyana is placed at a critical, dangerous crossroads, faced with the possibility of the return to power of the same party that wreaked havoc on, plundered and bankrupted the country for nearly three decades. And Nagamootoo, who, as a dedicated PPP soldier, was at the forefront in the struggle against the PNC, may very well end up with an indelible stain on his legacy if the alliance prevails, come May 11, and the country reverts back to the pre-1992 status quo.
There are those who posit that “things are not the same”; that Granger has become moderate, and that we should forgive and forget the past iniquities of the PNC, in favour of an alliance that promises “change” from what they paint as a dismal state of affairs in the country. Obviously, some of us seem to have short memories, and are willing to take reckless chances.
The PNC, in its heyday, consolidated power to such a degree that they controlled ALL institutions within the country, including the press and judiciary. Malfeasance was rampant, but there was no true recourse for anyone wanting to pursue legal remedies. In fact, such dissenters were subjected to KGB-style witch-hunting, and their being silenced was just a matter of a few phone calls involving the powers-that-be. Heads were rolled; people were unduly harassed and incarcerated; and many folks were simply eliminated. Anyone critiquing the government, on issues ranging from financial mismanagement to rigged elections, were challenged to “produce the proof”. And, needless to say, legal challenges were doomed to failure.
The difference today is that the judiciary is independent; not just on paper; and anyone claiming malfeasance, with the requisite proof, can be assured of a fair resolution. However, what have been rampant are unsubstantiated allegations, mostly based on rumours and innuendos. Gossip-mongering is pregnant with stories about high government officials driving expensive automobiles or building “mansions” with salaries that supposedly are not commensurate with such lavish spending. Of course, these are factors that, devoid of proof, should not be considered prima facie evidence of corruption. Also, irresponsible sections of the media have been seizing on such tales, and feeding the manufactured frenzy. To add insult to injury, obstructionism in Parliament, involving APNU/PNC and AFC and their one-vote majority, has been the order of the day since the last general elections, leading to a no-confidence motion; Parliament being prorogued; and new elections scheduled.
Nagamootoo’s decision to negotiate with a party that, as history will attest, was involved in some of the most heinous acts against the Guyanese people raises some important questions. Did the issues involving his falling out with the PPP outweigh the sins of the PNC? Was there absolutely no avenue open for him to negotiate some degree of rapprochement with his former colleagues? It seems he could have exercised much leverage in any such negotiations, considering his possible choices if they (the PPP) proved intransigent. One would think that someone of such national stature would put country first in arriving at such a crucial decision. Instead, an alliance, likely fuelled by the “axe to grind” mindset, ensued. Pragmatic considerations must have taken a back seat in the rush to ink the deal.
The stakes are very high, including for Nagamootoo and Ramjattan, who may very well be relegated to the political wilderness, should the PPP prevail. But political careers aside, it’s the Guyanese people who stand to lose the most with a return to the dark days of the PNC. After all, the country has seen tremendous progress, as documented not just locally but by international institutions, including the IMF, World Bank, IDB, and CDB, since democracy was restored in 1992. The upcoming elections will determine whether the Guyanese people want the progressive trend to continue, or opt to reward those who made every effort to stand in the way.
ABEL PETERS