THERE is never a dull week in Guyanese politics and the first week of the new year was no different. It has been quite an eventful one, politically. It started with the Red House controversy and ended with the mini cabinet reshuffle.In between, there have been renewed questions about the state of the government’s asset- recovery initiative. There is no doubt that the sharp political divisions play a major role in the political intensity that seems to permanently grip the society.
The Red House controversy is a typical example of how this sharp divide transforms routine issues in Guyana into major debates and even confrontation. What started out as a seemingly minor order by the President to recover a state-owned property that was deemed to be improperly transferred to an organisation for private use, quickly escalated into a confrontation between a governing party and the opposition.
The two narratives about this incident could not be more different. On the one hand, government supporters frame the issue as one of a government justly trying to recover misappropriated state assets. On the other hand, the opposition spins it as one of a rampant government disrespecting the legacy of one of the most revered leaders whose identity and support base lie in the Indian-Guyanese community. This latter narrative is wrapped up in the ethnic suspicions and sensitivities that so often colour our politics.
Government had tried to negotiate with the occupants of the building a proposal that all presidents’ works be kept at the house, but this was rejected by the PPP. Such a zero-sum position rendered negotiations fruitless and in the final analysis, left the government with no option but to recover the building. The thorny issue was what to do with the Jagan papers. In other words, how to recover the building and preserve Dr. Jagan’s legacy. Attorney General, Basil Williams, SC, has given an undertaking to Chief Justice (ag) Yonette Cummings- Edwards that the former president’s works would not be destroyed. “I told the Chief Justice that being a historian, the President would never consider destroying the materials belonging to Dr Jagan,” Williams was quoted as saying, by this newspaper.
The Attorney General has also expressed confidence that his government will win the case and explained that a heritage site cannot be leased. According to the Attorney General, the transaction was “shrouded in darkness” and noted that the rule is that a lease executed over 21 years must be done in the same manner as a transport. He explained that according to the rules, it is mandatory for such leases to be advertised in the Gazette as well as newspapers of wide circulation.
Thankfully, after the night of vigil and counter-vigil when there were verbal and physical clashes, both sides have pulled back. The matter is now tied up in the courts, which hopefully would deliver its verdict sooner rather than later. But whatever the court’s ruling, it would take a political solution to resolve this matter. Here is hoping that the PPP leaders exercise more maturity than they have done thus far and in the process, spare the country another episode of political brinksmanship.
Finally, the president has made a mini cabinet reshuffle, largely to facilitate the removal of Dr George Norton from the Public Health Ministry. In some regards, it is an acceptance by the government that the situation at that government ministry was getting out of hand. The President cited the need to strengthen the administrative capacity of the ministry as the main reason for the change, but clearly the bond scandal must have been another factor. The findings of the Inquiry on that matter, while not implicating the minister in any wrongdoing, could not have counted in his favour as the political head of the ministry.