THE Alliance For Change (AFC) within recent days has been attracting public scrutiny regarding the contents of leaked emails exchanged among its leadership in Guyana and Canada. The candid nature of the emails would understandably attract attention, some less than positive. What is clearly evident is the spirited exchanges surrounding the identification of a candidate for Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), and the subsequent appointment of Justice James Patterson.

Vice-President and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, who is also Chairman of the AFC, has said that in politics “perception is reality.” Where the AFC after the appointment issued a statement saying it was not consulted, leaked emails informed that its leadership had rendered advice to President David Granger in his consideration of making an appointment and this came as a surprise.

It was also learnt that Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, Leader of the AFC, was invited by the President to State House and apprised of the identified nominee before Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo was invited and the swearing in took place. Putting the pieces thus far known together it is reasonable to arrive at a conclusion that there was some level of knowledge, involvement and/or input by the AFC in arriving at the appointment.

There is no interest in debating the intricacies, mindful of the legal challenge to the appointment, acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire had advised the government and opposition to desist trying the case in public. Those emails also brought to the fore the importance of having frank and honest conversations on our history, not only to ensure accuracy but also given its importance to human development. Race in politics remains a divider, continues to have polarising and debilitating impacts on society. This has been a major problem for eons and the proverbial circling of the wagons will not help.

Where Dr. Rohan Somar, an AFC leader, expressed what is considered to be a “unilateral appointment” by the President and that given Patterson’s race such would cause the party to lose East Indian support and rip open the scars of People’s National Congress (PNC) rigging, his frankness cannot be ignored. These perceptions are deserving of attention. They carry inferences such as were an East Indian appointed under the exact circumstance it would not have found disfavour, Indians would not leave the party, their fear about rigged elections would be allayed or should such happen it would have been found acceptable.

Allegations of rigged elections, though often attributed to the PNC Government are not unique to that given recent incidents when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic was in government. The 1997 General and Regional Elections were nullified by the High Court because they were deemed fraudulent (i.e. rigged). In the 2006 Elections the AFC was denied the Region 10 seat it had won with the votes that came from an African stronghold. Those elections were presided over by a GECOM chairman of East Indian ancestry and its Chief Election Officer of identical ancestry.

Further examination of the AFC’s votes shows the majority have come from African strongholds. It becomes important where thoughts are freely expressed that respect for them do not ignore how the racial other is likely to feel, given that they are seen as pre-disposed to deviant characteristics, though their votes are relied on to be elected. Racial respect and harmony are important factors to a united Guyana, and any view expressed that lends to perception that in the same scenario what one group does is bad and the other good does not further the national goal.

Ageism continues to haunt even among those charged with constitutional responsibility to protect all citizens and where they themselves can too be seen as old and unfit to serve, given they are relatively older than the majority. Approximately two-thirds of our population is 40 years and younger. Every citizen, irrespective of age or other diversity, should feel secure in the state, government and those seeking and holding political office will protect and defend their rights. Age, outside of child labour, is not a disqualifier to work and earn.

While in the email Justice Patterson’s age was considered an ineligibility to serve, similar nexus and disapproval were expressed in the appointment of Dr. Barton Scotland, Speaker of the National Assembly. It was proffered this position should have been held by Attorney-at-law Stephen Fraser, comparatively of younger age. However, by the same criteria the preference ignored Mr. Fraser is older than the majority, a demographic that can consider him old and ineligible. Emails are leaked for various reasons.

Whereas it can be surmised or not known what is/are the reason/s and whether there will be more leaks, the AFC as a member of the coalition government undoubtedly would find it useful to assess the serious implications of their contents. Guyana’s motto is “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” Inherent in this is oneness of all, meaning oneness of treatment, respect and opportunities. There remains much work to be done in this regard.