Dear Editor,
All political parties have attributes that make them distinctive. Political parties in Guyana are no different. Allow me to elaborate on the distinctive character of the PPP, PNC, and WPA.
In the early decades, and especially from the 1950-1980s, the PPP was characterised by a progressive outlook in terms of economic policies. It was also deeply immersed in ideological narratives, much of it within the womb of Marxist-Leninist rhetoric.

The PNC’s most distinctive characteristic has been to present itself as an informed actor on the international stage, while finding ways to justify domestic bullyism through rigged elections. Forbes Burnham’s PNC was, at once, laced with progressive Third Worldism and domestic authoritarianism.

The old WPA boasted a combination of Marxism-Leninism and Black Power.
The PPP today is a problem-solving party. Ideology, while not completely jettisoned, plays a minor role. Bharrat Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali are the chief exponents of problem-solving politics and political economy.

Their focus is to find pragmatic solutions that are cost effective and workable in the short and medium terms, and sustainable solutions stretched over decades. Their stress on physical and human infrastructure development combines the different temporal moments.

The current PNC lacks any distinctive philosophy that articulates a cohesive set of principles and policies. Its discourses are heavily reliant on notions of grievance and historical redress. No plans to realize these have been properly produced.
The WPA is also a grievance party.

This party has dropped not only Marxism-Leninism but also the Progressive Black Nationalism that existed under Rodney. The current WPA is best characterised as an ethnic flame-thrower. Its penchant for non-electoral and undemocratic solutions is intact.
The problem-solving approach to political economy deserves closer examination simply because it is results-oriented.
Sincerely,
Dr Randy Persaud
Office of the President