Evolving political advocacy
A LITTLE while ago, some friends and I, all professional in our fields, came together and formed a group.  I suppose it could be considered a think thank by virtue of its intention and operation. We got together and spoke about developmental ideas, about a vision for what Guyana’s about and how to apply those ideas to governance in a practical way so as to achieve that vision.  The group is called Friends of Donald Ramotar.
I state that clearly knowing fully well the environment in which we’re operating, and the ramifications of my indicating any sort of allegiance to any political party or candidate.
Think tanks exist in societies around the world, adding their voice to a variety of issues from political ideology to health care to foreign policy.  And while many start off with a partisan agenda, what evolves is usually ideas that end up benefiting the society as a whole.  I believe that this is the case with this particular grouping, all of us relatively young professionals and all committed deeply to the overall development of Guyana.
One contextually relevant and crucial role I see for the Friends of Donald Ramotar has to do with the issue of post-elections accountability for all political parties, particularly relative to their campaign promises. 
We live in a culture where these grand and noble promises are made, that this party is going to do this for the social services sector and this party is going to reform the economy for the great and glorious transformation of Guyana.  Much of this is allowed of course because we don’t have a fact check or analysis mechanism during the campaign to see if what our politicians are saying makes any sense.
If, for example, a party says that we will reduce X tax and up salaries in Y sector, we don’t have any entity which can examine objectively and pronounce on how such actions would realistically impact upon the economy, for example, inflation.
As it is now, the only party that is held accountable relative to its manifesto promises is whatever party happens to win the elections.   For other political parties, they can basically reinvent the wheel for every election, and no one is necessarily the wiser because we don’t have a culture of objective and intelligent interrogation, coupled with the presumption that the ‘losers’ in elections are somehow absolved of responsibility for governance.
My question is, why shouldn’t every Parliamentary political party  be held also to the very promises that they promoted while contesting for the endorsement of the people to govern.  Aren’t they all part of government in that they are part of the legislative arm?
My view is, that if it is that your core principles are strong, regardless of whether you find yourself in opposition or government, you should be fighting for those principles – and the programmes which you’ve outlined in your manifesto – during the life of each parliament.
For example, if it is that your manifesto commits to getting teachers of a certain level duty-free concessions in some form or the other once you get into government, nothing prevents you from advancing that cause when you’re in Parliament as the opposition.  What we need to develop is a culture of holding every party accountable on its record between elections, and relative to its manifesto and core campaign platforms.
This is simply one of the roles I see this group functioning in over the next few years.  I’ll refrain from getting into any other area because, one, I don’t believe that we are quite ready to begin offering our ideas up at this juncture, preparing to wait instead until after the polls; and, secondly, touching up even one of our ideas here would not do it justice since this forum is necessarily inadequate.
That said, with regard to the way forward for this group, I have high hopes.  I can’t recall when last I’ve felt so personally excited about the potential for growth in a programme, and – at the risk of sounding grandiose – the ways in which the ideas coming out of it can make an impact upon this society.
Knowing fully well the impact this article is going to have in this season of scandals and drawn lines and suspect loyalties, next week I’ll be addressing a related issue.  I’m going to examine how discrimination works in two ways, not simply by the denial of opportunities by those who have power, but also the underreported but equally damaging ostracism of those who don’t.  I’m going to make it personal, I’m going to make it honest, and hopefully I’ll get some discussion rolling as I hope this instalment will as well.
Belated Happy Birthday Comrade Donald!