The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) held a symposium in Georgetown recently to discuss among other issues, corruption, discrimination and militarization of the State under the APNU+AFC administration.Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo is leading the case against the APNU+AFC and challenging the administration to behave responsibly and judiciously in matters relating to the citizens’ rights and laws. It is a generally accepted that a militant Opposition can contribute to good governance through its vigilance of Government’s management of the State, development and execution of policies and programmes. Where the Leader of the Opposition and his team do such it would be consistent with expected role.
That being said, it should be said there is something unusual about Guyana’s politics and politicians. Those new to politics or now paying attention could be enamoured by the PPP/C’s militancy and without having the benefit of history may be quick to conclude that party’s management of the State’s business was exemplar comparatively to now, which couldn’t be farther from the truth.
On the watch of a President Jagdeo (1999-2011) claims of discrimination were widespread and evident. In 2010 Jagdeo filed a private lawsuit, claiming libel and asking the court to award compensation of $10 million against Kaieteur News and columnist Freddie Kissoon for his article “King Kong sent his goons to disrupt the conference”. The suit contended that said article was “malicious, irresponsible and inflammatory, calculated and designed to excite racial hostilities amongst the people of Guyana false and manufactured allegations.” Giving evidence on this matter Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon when questioned as to the absence of Africans as heads of foreign mission replied that there existed no qualified person.
In 2003 Dr. Kean Gibson’s academic work ‘The Cycle of Racial Oppression in Guyana’ was brought before the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) by the PPP/C aligned Indian Arrival Committee, and calls made for the book to be banned. Trade unionist Lincoln Lewis who accused the Jagdeo government of being involved in economic genocide within the African community in laying out the case of treatment of African workers was taken before the ERC by Rashid Osman, an act orchestrated by the Jagdeo government.
During said period in excess of 400 young men, primarily Africans were executed by police and vigilante squads. Under the Coroner’s Act anyone meeting death under unnatural circumstance(s) an inquest ought to be held to determine cause of dead and who may be responsible. This law was never activated which under the law constitutes a denial of the right of those executed. Indians who indicated support for a political party outside of the PPP/C and any party it considers supportive of it, the machineries of the party and State were mercilessly used to go after them. This behaviour currently manifests itself as seen whenever Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo raises any issue, the party and Leader of the Opposition seek not to address the content of the PM’s statement but ruthlessly go after his person.
He who professes to be protector and defender of the laws, people and values needs to be careful of his conduct. And whereas Jagdeo and the PPP/C have a right to raise the issues highlighted at the symposium they equally have corresponding responsibilities to also avoid the things they condemned. The laws are not only made for the APNU+AFC government, but also the PPP/C in Opposition and in the Executive.
As the party focuses on what it has called the militarization of the State similar concern is being expressed across the political divide, including from the parties that have formed the government. There exists a perception by the PPP/C that whenever a job or assignment is to be given, preference is given to retired members of the military. Assessments are also being made as to the competence of these officers relative to others possessing technical skills and in the political trenches for years and were targeted for the PPP/C’s wrath, when many of the same officers were beneficiaries of its largesse.
It has been under the PPP/C’s management that Guyana has acquired the infamous status by Transparency International as the most corrupt English-Speaking country in the Caribbean. Forensic audits of State agencies have revealed the level of mismanagement that has occurred during that period. Suffice to say the grave injustices committed against the people and society under the past regimes,the current government needs to be judicious in its management of the State and the treatment of the people to avoid its tenure being equated to that period. Perception informs reality and often time it is reality. Where perception is inconsistent with intent it should be addressed.