Dear Editor
AFTER reading PPP/C MP Nigel Dharamlall’s response to Liberty and Justice Party(LJP) leader Lenox Shuman publicly stated allegations against him, one could not have avoided concluding that it was a response script true to tradition — PPP/C style.

Rather than seek to rebut Shuman in convincing fashion, Dharamlall resorted to personal attacks, and even attempted political blackmail when he stated in his response “…I do possess a tremendous lot of credible information on Shuman that can cause his political aspirations to quickly dissipate, but I will not indulge in a tit for tat with someone who is currently an imposter and not yet qualified to stand for public office in Guyana.”
Editor, I hold no brief for Shuman, except to say that once there are accusatory factors that are made against any public figure — and this includes Dharamlall — they must answer the public in a satisfactory manner; for, after all, they are aspirants to both public office and national leadership. Therefore, Dharamlall should have demanded that Shuman answer his accusers and not wait for the elapse of time to use it as ammunition in his own defence of allegations made against him, when he had functioned in the capacity of a senior public servant.

Editor, for Dharamlall to state, “It was only last year this very Chronicle carried articles detailing Shuman’s mismanagement of his village council and village affairs …Now, the Guyana Chronicle has become the trumpet of Shuman, which clearly establishes a formal link between Shuman and the PNC – led APNU.’’

Of course, the Chronicle did carry the complaint against Shuman, as it did publicise his recent complaint against Dharamlall; AND AS IT HAS ALSO FOR BALANCE AND OBJECTIVE REPORTING, ACCEPTED DHARAMLALL’S MISSIVE AS RESPONSE TO SHUMAN’S. After all, the Chronicle is a public medium funded by taxpayers, and is therefore obliged to function in the name of the public and not in the name of any political party; and being nasty and vindictive to critics through vicious, personal attacks as had been the culture during the PPP/C’s regime. Nigel Dharamlall is too aware of this media criminality to be writing such shameless prejudice.

It is asinine for Dharamlall to seek to link Shuman with the PNC, because of the Chronicle’s acceptance of his letter for publication; and even if his discussions with the APNU segment of the coalition were unsuccessful, he has shown an understanding and acknowledgement that coalition and inclusivity should be the way forward for national politics, and not the politics of ethnic domination, as practised by the PPP/C.

In fact, one must also understand Dharamlall’s attacks on Shuman, using his response to Shuman’s letter to vent, perhaps, vitriol on behalf of the PPP/C, at the LJP leader’s disclosure of a ‘back door’ attempt by the PPP/C to hold discussions with the LJP.
This was the classical PPP/C attempt to continue its well-known strategy of dividing Indigenous peoples, while attempting to insert its penchant for dominance. It is obvious that Shuman would have thwarted such subterfuge, thus demanding that he be respected as party leader, and be allowed to chart his party’s independent course. Perhaps, this line of action must have been the cause of the PPP/C rejecting his invitation?
Finally, one wonders what kind of “high ground’’ with the PPP/C is Dharamlall talking about, especially his claim of continuing ‘’to serve my country with unwavering distinction.’’ This is a case of the communist mindset, where its adherents place themselves in total, self-induced delusion. Dharamlall has proven to be a very good example of this mental characteristic of communism.

Yes, the PPP/C did stand on high ground, but with a rotten record of governance, second to none in the history of CARICOM; and as to Dharamlall’s declaratory intent of serving “my country with unwavering distinction,’’ has to be one of the great political jokes of an extraordinary political season being experienced by this country. Is Dharamlall implying also that he had served his former ministry with distinction?
If he indeed had done so, Indigenous peoples and their communities would have been far better, socio-economically, when the Granger administration ascended to office. It has been the task of the APNU+AFC coalition to bring Indigenous peoples and their hinterland communities from horrible sub-standard environmental conditions to a greater level of sustainable living and development. This has been highlighted by the numerous hinterland initiatives which continue to enhance their lives and communities.

Regards
Carla Mendonca