BECAUSE of our general ethnic voting patterns, most analysts tend to downplay the importance of policies in influencing electoral choice. In other words, the assumption is that ethnic voting patterns and adherence to policies are not interrelated. Yet, as we observe the current electoral campaign, one senses that the contestants are being forced to address policies more than they have previously done. Perhaps this has to do with the development of a critical mass of citizens who now ask more questions of politicians than before and are prepared to withhold their votes if they are not satisfied that the parties pay enough attention to policies. It may also have to do with the fact that the coming of the oil and gas economy dictates that politicians address the central questions which accompany that development.
We believe that it is a combination of the two factors. A democratic society presupposes an informed citizenry and an informed citizenry assumes the free flow of information in the public domain. Certainly, the current government can take credit for ensuring the conditions for freedom of speech and a free exchange of information were restored and protected during its first term. So, it is not surprising that citizens are in a place where they are much more informed about the workings of government and feel freer to critique governance. This we believe has been critical to the evolution of a more questioning electorate, even if ethnicity continues to play some role in voting preferences.
This, in conjunction with the movement to an oil and gas economy or what President Granger calls the Petroleum State forces the politicians to contend with the overriding question: what is to be done? To our credit there has been quite a robust public discussion surrounding this question. From the often shrill discussion of the oil contracts in some quarters to the more sober debates over what to do with the expected income, there has been no shortage of opinions on the subject. This has no doubt helped to raise questions in the minds of voters and the population at large.
While some politicians have continued to stress negative themes on the campaign trail, others have read the mood of the people and have generally used the campaign to put policy ideas before the electorate. Here, one cannot fault President Granger and his coalition. Very early they introduced the Decade of Development which rests on four critical areas of the country’s political economy: the engagement of technology, the environment, education and the imperatives of an oil and gas economy represents a holistic vision for a changing Guyana. Unfortunately, the other political contestants have not matched the coalition in this regard. We, however, remain optimistic that sooner rather than later they would follow suit. Until then, the coalition has the advantage that foresight brings with it.
As if to demonstrate that it is very much in step with the mood of the electorate, this past week Mr. Granger announced that his coalition has embraced the much-debated Cash Transfer proposal that was first introduced in August 2018 by coalition partner, the WPA.
After much discussion and some hesitancy in some quarters, the coalition has come out in support of what appears to be a very popular policy among the voting masses. As the WPA has argued, the policy is aimed at empowering the poor in the society with the guarantee of a direct infusion of added income aimed at poverty alleviation.
While the PPP has also promised some form of Cash Transfer, the coalition’s proposal is more direct and detailed and goes beyond political gimmickry. President Granger announced at Anna Regina that the cash grants will be given to households with schoolchildren. On the face of it, the president merges the Cash Transfer policy with his broader policy for an Education Nation. As the President explained: “We will put oil money in your homes and households…we will ensure that every family with a child in school, gets a cash grant…the money will come to you.”
Amidst loud cheers, the president vowed not to use the oil money to empower millionaires. This is the clearest statement yet from a major leader on the ideological underpinnings of economic and social policy in the new dispensation. The embrace of the Cash Transfer policy also represents the value of coalition politics as policy initiatives from two partners have been merged into a single policy proposal. This no doubt is a clear rejection of the notion that the coalition is being dominated by one party.
As the parties prepare to roll out their manifestos, the coalition has set a standard, as far as policy proposals are concerned, that would be hard to surpass, In the end, we think this is a very positive development; the country’s political culture would surely be enhanced. Perhaps we are slowly but surely finding a way to creatively contain the impact of ethnic voting. We shall see.
