AS usual, Kaieteur News’ premier columnist is attacking His Excellency President Jagdeo, this time for his candidly given response to a reporter’s question on political compromise and healing. But they are the hallmarks of the culture of constitutional and participatory democracy, so much alive in Guyana, as eloquently outlined in the Sunday Chronicle by the eminent Dr. Prem Misir, with which I concur. Of course; politics have always been competitive for the prize of power that is at stake. Its rivalry is always intense, because of the differing strategies adopted by its participating principals in their bid to outdo one another, making the other side look bad. It is this milieu that creates the conflicts, hence the divide, as President Jagdeo so correctly illustrated. This observation is as practical and honest as it has ever been made and does coincide with that of the well known theorists. So what is Kissoon’s grouse?
For an academic and political analyst as he claims to be, one is left to ponder where does he reside especially as such relates to his many observations on local political issues and his vain attempts to fit such into his personal and referred theories.
According to our ‘learned scholar’, such a position as expounded by President Jagdeo occurs in a vacuum, with no role of the masses; this latter view, as always, is the state of Guyana’s politics. In other words, ‘master political thinker’ Kissoon is saying in plain language that all the main actors, and I know he would of course be referring to the PPP/C, do not include the body politic in their considerations. This is very erroneous.
Then why does the PPP/C government take its administration to the people in the form of cabinet outreaches ever so often? Why do ministers hurry to areas that are affected by natural phenomena, as well as undertake visits to ascertain the needs of the various communities, whether these are pro government or not, and open their offices to the public? Absolutely, they are not taking their constituents for granted, for they know that they have to justify their political mandate, and that such can be taken away. They are in office by the will of the people.  Even the Parliamentary Opposition Parties have been doing their national political rounds, in their bid to attract the electorate with their particular message. Then, there is their access to both the print and electronic media, that gives all a more than level playing field in explaining their individual party’s viewpoints. Sure, these jostlings are what will create the political divide, because of their conflicting nature. This is what political rivalry is all about: very fierce competition.