THE story carried in the Stabroek News’ Sunday Edition of June 24, 2012 is misleading, if not wicked to say the least.
It seeks to create the impression that our party’s Headquarters is without anchorage and has no one to speak for the PPP.
The story is as usual replete with speculation and is for all intents and purposes another effort to belabor the much vaunted view carried in media by Ralph Ramkarran about corruption.
The PPP has never side-stepped nor condoned any evidence-based allegation of corruption, extravagance, nepotism, favourtism or any other form of financial, economic or social impropriety.
All over the world corruption is a pet subject for the political opposition. They constantly strive to make the perception the reality. The role of Government is to fight corruption, demand the evidence and place that evidence in the hands of the lawful authorities to deal with it.
According to transparency International 56 per cent of citizens in G-20 countries think corruption has increased in their country in the past three years and only 29 per cent assess their government’s action in the fight against corruption as effective.
Guyana is not a G-20 country but the statistics reveal how global the phenomenon is. While we were in the Opposition we also fought against corruption associated with the activities of the PNC Government.
In those days even former members of the PNC Administration came out against corruption.
Under the PNC one Minister of Finance had declared in the National Assembly that $1.5 million was illegally spent on the East Coast Highway and not properly accounted for.
A former PNC Mayor of Georgetown was quoted as saying:
“The Director of Audit report makes grim reading and shows that all is far from well in many Departments of Government…with ever increasing large sums money being spent and the heavy taxes wasted from people. We have a right to demand proper care and expending of our money, the keeping of accounts and that the light-fingered gentry in high powered cars be put where they belong – behind bars. So of those get-rich-quick Wallingfords should be made to explain where their new-found wealth came from?”
Moreover, a top PNC Government supporter had cried out against:
“a new elite creating a new larger area of snobbery with bribery and corruption all over the place and fast becoming a national industry.”
He further alluded that:
“The harm done in any situation in which bribery, corruption, nepotism and favourtism assume national proportions and is a way of life from top down can never be calculated.”
Finally, one prominent church leader had this to say:
“Bribery and corruption in all forms are prevalent. Money in the hands of the unscrupulous can outbid social justice at every level.”
Allegations of corruption in the PNC Administration versus allegations of corruption in the PPP/C Administration, where does this take us as a nation? It all boils down to the political struggle of one party against another and in this regard, the use of the corruption platform as a means to an end. Towards this end, the media can play a key role as a political ally of the Opposition.
The PPP has a strong and enduring support base that has always been the target of opportunistic politicians many of whom fell by the wayside while new ones have emerged from time to time. We have always exposed the wolves in sheep’s clothing and showed the people what their real intentions are. We shall continue to do so even in these modern yet again, challenging times.
Whether by omission or commission Ramkarran’s statement has given grist to the Opposition’s campaign of malignment and slander against his own Party’s Government, see how fast and furiously they have pounced upon it like vultures descending upon rotting meat.
By contacting Freedom House, Stabroek News sought to evince a statement from the Party on Ramkarran’s view with the sole purpose of keeping the issue alive; driving a wedge between Ramkarran and the party, projecting the Party in a poor light and in the end, to maintain itself (SN) as an un-bashful and unapologetic ally of the political opposition.
The PPP has mountains of experience with newspapers assuming a political role despite their Biblical Peter like denials and protestations. This was seen in the cases of the Daily and Sunday Argosy, the Daily and Sunday Graphic, the Chronicle and the Evening Post. To be critical for referring to the 1960’s won’t change history.
Moreover, due to its international connections, the PPP has witnessed the destabilising role of political newspapers in other counties for example under the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, in Chile under Allende and in Grenada under Bishop.
As we stated time and again the political role of the Stabroek News is clear for all those who have eyes to read. Deny it as they may by hiding behind the so-called ‘independent’ newspaper façade.
As a long standing member and leader of the PPP I wish to make it clear that the PPP does not run any ‘show’ nor are there any ‘shows’ at Freedom House.
The PPP takes it role very seriously and conducts its struggle on all fronts; in the fields and factories, the highways and the byways, during elections and after elections, at the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary level.
We mobilise the workers, the farmers, progressive intellectuals, patriotic businessmen and professionals, our women, youth, students and the dispossessed in defence of and to protect their legitimate interests and for the advancement of their livelihoods.
The PPP is in Government for the longest period since its establishment (1992-2012). Prior to this, it was in office for only 111 days in 1953, four years from 1957 t0 1961 and for three years from 1961 – 1964. It is to be recalled that following the 1997 elections, President anet Jagan’s term in office was cut from five to three years under the Herdmanston Accord.
During each and every one of these periods the PPP was subjected to the harshest, most despicable and unrelenting attacks from Opposition elements of various shades and hues, yet the Party emerged stronger.
For the PPP the journey is never ended. We shall continue down the long and winding road. It has and will always be a struggle to get into office and to stay in office.
It has never been and never will be easy sailing for the PPP in or out of office.
The reduced number of seats we now enjoy as a result of the 2011 elections will not daunt the Party. In fact, it has energised us to continue the fight as it has always been since the formation of the PPP in 1950. This is the legacy Cheddi Jagan has left us.