Dear Editor,
I REFER to an article published in the DemeraraWaves edition of Jan 17, 2020, captioned, “Mark Phillips selected as the Prime Ministerial Candidate to address Afro- Guyanese interests.” This statement was attributed to the former PPP/C parliamentarian Odinga Lumumba speaking at a PPP public meeting in Lodge, Georgetown. And we were told that he was addressing a predominantly African audience.

Before addressing the merits or lack of merit in Lumumba’s declaration, I wish to examine the doings of the “notorious messenger,” who is on public record describing himself as an opportunist. He was at the time on a TV show where he tries to deflect criticism of his association with the PPP: so it is within reason to conclude that his politics has been driven by political opportunism. He was employed as a presidential adviser for economic empowerment and the frontman for Jagdeo and the PPP‘s aggression in the African community. His and the PPP’s legacy as it relates to the African community’s interest has been abysmal to say the least. Corrupting African organisations and their leadership, recruiting lumpen elements and criminals to do dirty work for the PPP. These are some of his outstanding achievements as it relates to our community. In the process, he enriches himself at the expense of the African community. I made these observations to demonstrate to readers that Lumumba’s conception of African interests has nothing to do with improvement of the African condition, but with pleasing his masters in Freedom House and earning his “handsome profits.”

Now let me return to the merit or lack of merit that Mark Phillips has been given the prime ministerial position on the PPP‘s ticket for him to address African interests. In the Guyanese context, given our race/ polarised politics, when one of the major parties publicly states that it has appointed its PM candidate to address the interests of a particular race group, it is of significance and ought to be taken seriously, since it can be a meaningful and genuine concession to the race contradictions in this society, or a ploy intended to deceive. Since to date no one in the PPP or the brigadier has come out to dispute Lumumba’s revelation, we can assume that the statement is correct. Here is where the thing becomes contradictory and questionable. Phillips in his first and subsequent speeches as PM candidate speaking at the party rallies has said that his decision to accept the PPP’s offer was his desire to serve all Guyanese. This can be construed to mean that he doesn’t see himself as having the responsibility to look after African interests in government and country.

Guyanese politicians generally shy away from publicly associating their politics with a particular race/ethnic interest and if Phillips agrees to his assignment given to him by the PPP, he should publicly say so. His failure to do so immediately negates the relevance of his appointment. As we await his clarification of this matter, I wish to draw to the brigadier’s attention that the PPP/C even with Samuel Hinds as prime minister, and Lumumba as a presidential adviser for economic empowerment and point man for the African community, has failed to address African interests. And in fact, they never had any such intention. The PPP/C during its 23-year rule has consistently dismissed calls from the African community to have their concerns addressed in a profound way. Those who defy the regime and advocated for African interests were deemed racist and some like Ronald Waddel fell victims to state-sponsored death squads. In all seriousness, I call on Mark Phillips to say what is his understanding of African interests – we Africans need to know.

Given the fact that he would be judged by this assignment, I will assist Phillips to conceptualise what constitutes African interests: (a) rejection of winner-takes- all politics and constitutional reform to enshrine shared governance; (b) rejection of economic and social marginalisation which promotes racial domination; (c) the need for redressing the consequence of historical policies by the state, colonial and post-colonial, that have negatively contributed to impoverishment of the African community; (d) urgent policies to address the marked decline in African stakes/ownership in the economy which at present stands at less than 10 per cent (this situation in part due to 23 years of PPP/C’s policy of economic appetite); (e) a confession by Jagdeo and the PPP’s leadership of their involvement in state-sponsored phantom death squads responsible for the execution of hundreds of African young men.

So, Brigadier Mark Phillips, these are some of our concerns. Now you have your work cut out if you had indeed agreed to this assignment from Jagdeo and the PPP.

Regards
Tacuma Ogunseye