Dear Editor,

WHENEVER election time comes around, it again becomes a time for Guyanese from all walks of life to trigger a thought on the political arena.

Many people will reflect on what is neutral, recollect the positives and reject the negatives, as a form of personal introspect which may help them to do the right thing and make a wise voting decision based on performances, principles and policies and not politicians, personality or party. A walk down memory lane will prove very helpful.

Good things come to those who wait as a result of a trio of patient, satisfying and effective reasoning. Good things also come in threes being rudimentary, supplementary and complementary.

It has been three tempered months since the untiring, robust and hard-working President Dr. Irfaan Ali declared a date for Guyana’s General and Regional 2025 Election.

“Lang time don, shart time lef!” Guyanese now have three days more to go before they decide on electing a party which will provide peace, progress and prosperity.

The true prediction proved that three times, there will be denial, denouncement and disclaim. Under the dictatorial PNC days from 1964 to 1992 and again under the devious APNU+AFC administration, from 2015 to 2020: Guyana’s economy suffered devastating setbacks; Guyanese were demoralised; and, Guyana and Guyanese defaulted to the dilemma of “take what you get and wait for what you want.”

APNU+AFC attempted to rig the election to gain power through the back door in order to rule from 2020 to 2025 but were unsuccessful. All three periods, the PNC did not feature any angel to shepherd its flock but rather, feathered a wolf in sheep’s clothing and fathered an archfiend to shame its fold.

The “Rule of Three” is very perceptive, persuasive and productive in writing, advertising, and presentations. In forming the PPP, Dr. Cheddi Jagan held three different portfolios being Chief Minister, Minister of Trade and Industry and Premier of then British Guiana from 1953 to 1964.

Those were problematic days for the PPP under the British colonial masters and Dr. Jagan perceived an independent nation must take birth.

The PPP government operated under pressure and did not have possession of the Ministries for Finance and Foreign Affairs and power residing mostly with the Governor, Ralph Grey.

Three witches are featured in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, concocting a witch’s brew to conjure the souls of the dead, along with magical animal parts and cursed objects thrown into the cauldron. Due to collusion, collaboration and conspiracy among the British, the US and Burnham, the coalition of the PNC with the UF ousted the PPP from power in 1964 to 1992.

Three significant issues took place to change the political landscape of Guyana while Dr. Cheddi Jagan sat on the Opposition bench. British Guiana gained independence on the 26th May, 1966, and changed her name to Guyana. On the 23rd February, 1970, Guyana declared herself as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

On the 10th July, 1978, a Referendum was held to choose “Yes” or “No” to the question: “Do you approve of the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill No. 8 of 1978 and published on May 13th, 1978 in the Official Gazette?”

With three magical sets of percentages, the PNC manufactured, maneuvered and maimed the subject of mathematics to manipulate a favourable result. Despite most people staying home and only 14% of the electorate turning out to vote, the government claimed the votes were counted – in the absence of opposition observers – the official results declared that 71.45 % of the electorate voted, of which 97.7% supported the referendum proposal!

Various incidents occurred which developed devastating dramas to shrink the political, economic and social status of Guyana during the terrible reign of the PNC and Burnham.

Three outstanding sore issues soured the taste buds of Guyanese both at home and abroad. Essential and basic food items to foster a cultural plurality were banned from the shelves and less importation restricted the growth of the private business sector.

Nationalisation provided the downsizing of many foreign owned companies and paved the way for Burnham and his chosen friends, families and favourites to become “square pegs in round holes.” The PNC party card became the passport to cut lines, receive priority treatment and give preferences advantageous to those without PNC membership cards!

The first 28 years of the PNC and their dictatorship saw three tragedies which shocked the world beyond belief and grief, and failed to provide any relief for explanation! Burnham had threatened that those who opposed him would “feel the sharpness of his steel”.

He said, “The gauntlet has been thrown down. We have picked it up. The battle is joined. We asked no quarter and we shall give none. Former PNC Education Minister Vincent Teekah was murdered. Father Darke from the Catholic Standard was brutally stabbed to death. Dr. Walter Rodney, founder of the WPA, was blown to smithereens!

At a time when the ugly head of violence is surfacing in the threesome company of APNU/AFC/WIN camp, it is interesting to remember three quotes from the founder of the PNC who was the father of “Apaan Jaat”, the man who suffered from color complex and the leader who encouraged violence: Burnham promised “We shall use every weapon at our disposal”; Burnham warned “Let there be no weeping or complaints”; Burnham boasted that he will not rest until his “enemies are crushed and utterly destroyed.”

Come this Monday, as Guyanese prepare to cast their votes, let us remember three things: President Dr. Irfaan Ali is aberrant to violence; President Irfaan Ali treats all Guyanese equally and President Ali is the only President who is sincere in wanting a “One Guyana.” Do be safe, sensible and sure when you vote.

Yours respectfully,

Jai Lall