DR. CHEDDI Jagan embraced the concept of inclusivity from the inception of his freedom fight and the formation of the PAC, then later the People’s Progressive Party; and he never once diverted from that path to peace, progress and prosperity.

The ugly face of the Opposition has always tried to ascribe racism and the bogey of communism to him, so as to win points with voters and potential supporters.

Once, when he was making a speech in Canada, he alluded to the treatment Europeans have always accorded black people by saying that, for the Europeans and white Americans, black people have always been at the bottom rung of the ladder in the development paradigm of their respective countries; and here he was alluding to all peoples who were not white, because anyone not of European extraction was perceived to be “black” by the white Americans and Europeans, and this includes even Indians from India.

It was the elitist WPA-supporting “Stabroek News” (the other anti-PPP organ, “Kaieteur News”, had not yet been established) that extrapolated one damning phrase from Dr. Jagan’s speech and deliberately contextualized it so as to cast aspersions of racism on the greatest humanist of the Western Hemisphere.

Their headlines screamed: “Dr. Jagan says blacks are at the bottom rung of the ladder”.  The anti-PPP media collective, including the PNC organ that was edited by Adam Harris, picked up the propaganda like a wolf pack; and bandies it until today, even though Dr. Jagan clarified what he had said and the context in which he was referring. The good doctor even apologiSed for offending those who felt offended, even though it was from a flawed perspective.

And until today, the Opposition collective propagates the myth that the greatest leader this region ever had was a racist, and they use that phrase to augment their vilification of the great and good Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

So this branding with illusionary accusations of everyone perceived to be part of the PPP family — even those Guyanese of African descent, whom the opposition collective term “house slaves” — has been a strategy used since the time that Burnham and D’Aguiar first collaborated with the colonials to depose a Cheddi Jagan Government using the bogey of communism.

Today the catchwords are, inter alia, “corruption, secret deals, marginalisation,” which are just as destabilizing to national unity as the bogeys of “communism and racism; and today, like yesterday, the anti-PPP, power-hungry charlatans have no qualms in inciting hatred in the hearts of Guyanese; race against race, destroying the unity of the workforce to destabilize the unifying, progressive, and wealth-creational mechanisms that the Government is consistently trying to achieve to take this nation on the path to peace, progress and prosperity that was first charted by Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

As per the PPP policy, the Government made accommodation for the opposition in the governance structure by formulating the parliamentary sectoral committees; with the PNC chairing several vital committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, where they were allowed to examine all the financial transactions, barring none, of the State.  They were even allowed to question state officials, again barring none, with the exception of the President, and then make recommendations. Most times these ensued in policy decisions at Cabinet level.

If this was not power-sharing and shared governance, then it boggles the mind what else the opposition collective expects.

President Donald Ramotar even stated his intention to be further accommodating, depending on the level of trust that the Opposition could build up, taking into consideration their track record of always reneging on agreements – both formal and informal.

However, they have gotten so power drunk with their one-vote/one-seat parliamentary majority that they are using every ploy to stymie the progress that has been achieved by the former PPP Government under Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s leadership, forcing the incumbent President to re-think his intention of making greater accommodation (taking into consideration the drama being enacted in the current Parliament, one can only imagine the Tower of Babel and the constant fracas that Cabinet would be reduced to and endure if the Opposition were allowed a foothold there).

The normally very easygoing and accommodating President Donald Ramotar was also constrained to issue the warning that, although the Government would be prepared to make compromises for the greater good of the country, his administration would not allow itself to be blackmailed into committing actions detrimental to the national good, and behaviour that would impede the progress of the country’s developmental imperatives.

One wonders if this is a ploy of Trotman’s to appear to be reasonable in this instance, keeping his firepower for the Budget; because this individual emerged from the belly of the PNC beast, and the stratagems of that party and its satellites to seem reasonable and patriotic, even as they are destroying the peace and inhibiting the progress of the nation, is legendary in the annals of Guyana’s history.

The Jagans and the PPP have always embraced anyone, irrespective of race, colour, or creed, who indicated a desire to join forces with them in nation-building endeavours and initiatives.  They do not promise wealth, because they possess none themselves, and most often they draw supporters into social services, community-enhancement, and national developmental projects that entail really hard work with little material or financial benefits, except that one gets the satisfaction that accompanies efforts to make life a little better for one’s fellow citizens.

But Shirley Edwards, Cyril Belgrave and others of the older generation, as well as younger elements such as the Hamilton children and others, could testify that there is no discrimination within PPP ranks, although there may be disagreements between members, but it is never based on a racial quotient.

As former President Jagdeo said, theirs is not a perfect party, nor is theirs a perfect Government; because no such thing has ever existed, nor will ever exist once the human element is a component within the unit.

But one would expect that a responsible Opposition or media corps would not just criticise, but would put its criticism within reasonable contexts, without trying to demonise persons who may be working really hard to find solutions and to enhance the capacities and service of their respective portfolios. And while mistakes may be made, maybe a respectful suggestion to an alternative approach would be constructive and open avenues for rapprochement and genuine attempts to find answers; because no-one is above making mistakes, and while we may disagree, respect for each other should be a paramount feature in our interactions and interrelations with each other.

One cannot want cooperation if there is dishonesty in rhetoric and actions, and if one adopts a confrontational approach; because even criticism can be well received if there is a genuine attempt at problem-resolution without outlandish accusations which lack concrete proof being flung at persons. Such accusations de-motivate persons who may be blameless of the accusations, and who may be genuinely working for the general good.

For instance, one cannot refute the fact that there have been corrupt practices in certain sectors; but if there is an accusation of discrimination within a certain sector, then statistics to prove this contention must be provided.

Also, the perpetrators must be identified, instead of placing an entire sector under a blanket condemnation. If this is done, then perceptions would most likely be changed.

Guyanese need to take charge of their destiny and the future of their children by being responsible citizens striving to reach common goals for the common good; because to continue expanding divisions within the nation would see us all sliding into a crevice leading straight to hell — where the Americans and British once relegated this nation — when we can join forces as a united nation to make a heaven of our country.