Dear Editor
FREDDIE KISSOON is not read by professional politicians in Guyana — from all political shades — since they don’t like his personal criticisms or don’t agree with his basic analysis of the Guyanese society. I must confess also that I cannot deal with his arrogance and his method of analysis.
But the caption of his article did catch my attention. I prefer to deal more with his assertion on the position of the Alliance for Change – a junior partner in the coalition. As a commentator and community activist, I want to feel free to express my views and opinion – contrary to some people in our society, who thinks that one should hold a party line. I am not a “party man” ! I want to feel that I am part of a Movement living in a modern world. I will not be hamstrung by any kind of archaic methods, but I do believe in self-discipline– law and order which we did not have under the JAGDEO-PPP.
I resent the Stalinist approach to politics and I have long left that behind me, when I decided to leave the PPP in 1979. That type of dominant politics and control –freakery is not my cup of tea! Mr. Kissoon is correct in stating that coalition concepts and partnerships,like marriages, are very complex arrangements and is designed, from my standpoint, to meet the wider good of society and not for convenience as we are experiencing today with the AFC, who have more than 6 members in the coalition cabinet.
The AFC gives the public the impression that they are bound by secrecy and that they cannot disclose what goes on in Cabinet as if to say that those RULES that dictate how a Cabinet works descended from Heaven. The electorate understands the need for national security and expects some level of confidentiality. But beyond that, there must be accountability and transparency. Too much secrecy creates an elite ruling class, which leads to dictatorship and not the empowering of the majority of people, who happen to be ordinary working people. I must add that this was Walter Rodney’s trump card: “People’s power no dictator” !
An editorial in this week’s State-run Chronicle newspaper made the point that people get into politics for the general good of society or for their personal ends. That is a universal truth.
The AFC has used the Cummingsburg Accord agreement to fleece as much concessions as possible, but they do not feel that they have a DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to the people who had voted them into office. After two years, they cannot put in place PROMISES in APNU-AFC MANIFESTO. Two glaring examples: Constitutional reform and issues to do with the rice industry and agriculture in general. Would they blame the President? The AFC chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, said that he was not aware that the Ombudsman, after 7 months, was not installed.
The AFC has been given very important ministerial positions, but in most of the ministries they hold gross incompetence and inefficiencies exist – but they are yet to come to terms with a high quality of service to all the people of this country.
The President, David Granger, has made a public call for the citizens to “hold their elected representatives’ feet to the fire”, and this includes ministers in the coalition government. No one should be sacrosanct. In my book, if you cannot do the job – you must resign or be fired. The taxpayers must not pay for laziness and disorganisation.
The blame game must stop since the ordinary man and woman on the street expects things to be done to get a “Better life” ! But if people who are in authority do not manage human material resources effectively and efficiently, then they must be relieved of their positions. There is a determined and dedicated set of people in government — led by the President–who are working in the best interest of the country and they must be commended and publicly awarded.
There has to be a complete review of governance and in this regard, the President has taken practical steps to set up a civil service college to train and educate young people and retrain others who have been accustomed to this lacklustre approach to work. The changes in government are slow, but will speed up as incompetence is replaced in every sector of society and every sector of the economy.
Regards
Jinnah Rahaman