I AM very upset with David Hinds’ letter “The Coalition seems to have no answer to Jagdeo,” published in the April 22, 2015, edition of the Stabroek News. The letter subtly urges violence, and acts as a veneer for making the May 11 build up a physical street battle.

Hinds boldly and dangerously declares that “the Coalition (A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change) seems to have no answer to Jagdeo. They are not fighting back.” And from this passive acknowledgement, he transfers to “You (the Coalition) are not going to overcome him with ‘press releases’ or by ‘brushing him’ aside; you have to reduce him down to size, in the eyes of his supporters and your supporters.” This, by any cursory analysis, breathes an inflammatory note of violence.

In recognising the personage and influence of the former president, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Hinds, like his allies, is intimidated and defenceless. He sadly concedes that “They (Coalition) were obviously taken aback by Mr. Jagdeo’s presence in the campaign.” However, he turns this disappointment into a reckless call to deal with Jagdeo, in non-civilised ways.

“You are not going to overcome him with press releases or by brushing him aside; you have to reduce him down to size in the eyes of his supporters and your supporters.” Hinds’ bellicose language is very suggestive here, and he invokes recent scenarios to influence the support for ‘warfare.’
He alludes to Vanessa Kissoon, whose tactic is to “fight a bad man like a bad man.” He also conjures up Roopnaraine, asking that the Coalition supporters heed his call and resort to ‘revolution.’

I see this as an urgent, desperate call for the ‘use of violence’ and more so (for Hinds) that time is limited, as “there are still three weeks to go.”
I personally abhor this kind of language, and clearly the PPP/C practises the opposite of what it has been accused of, since Hinds states that “a party (PPP/C) that governed as harshly as the PPP did for 23 years should be expected to defend its regime just as harshly as it governed.”
I recall that on Sunday, April 19, after a massive rally in Albion, several persons, including two children, were injured by missiles thrown by unknown assailants at two vehicles transporting supporters who were returning from the occasion. The attack occurred on the Corentyne Coast, and information received indicates that the vehicles were bombarded by bottles containing sand, rocks and a corrosive substance.

In the face of this level of violence, the PPP/C responded in a most dignified manner: “Do not be intimidated! Remain calm! Do not be fearful! Do not respond in kind; demonstrate to them and to Guyana that the supporters of the PPP/C are people who respect democracy and freedom, and who are peaceful people.”
I hope all Guyana will become cognisant of what Mr. Hinds is attempting to engender here among the leaders and supporters of the Coalition. I believe that Hinds is desirous of ‘wresting legitimate power’ from the ruling PPP/C, by any means possible. His letter smacks of a call for violence and hints at a plan for revolt in the event a win for the PPP/C.

BALDEO MATHURA