Dear Editor,
Tacuma Ogunseye’s opinions on the PNC Symposium on Mr. Forbes Burnham at HBTV 9 are a frank and interesting piece of analysis (SN 11/03/2007). While persons may not agree with everything said, one cannot deny that Mr. Ogunseye is one of the few politicians in Guyana who is genuinely committed to his country. His open approach to analysing Guyana’s political development across party and racial lines will let him go down in history as one of our better historical writers of this era.
Since the society is revisiting history, it is only a matter of time before everything is laid bare for all to see. Guyanese not only want “frankness and objectivity” on Mr. Burnham’s leadership. Guyanese want the same for Dr. Walter Rodney and his death, Desmond Hoyte, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, and other second tier leaders of these parties. The days for ostrich politics are fast coming to an end. As a WPA activist, I ask Mr. Ogunseye what were Mr. Rodney’s views on sharing power with the PNC and PPP had his party won an election? Is there a proposal/model to be shared with society?
Guyanese are burdened and tired with racist divisive politics and it may be opportune to have the PPP publicly discuss their 1975 Power Sharing proposal/model and their role. Mr. Burnham is dead but Mrs. Janet Jagan, according to Mr. Aubrey Norton, was part of the talks. Guyanese need to hear her side of the story. Can the media follow up with an investigative report, so the nation will have her side? This is a matter of public importance and Mrs. Jagan owes the society this information.
It is true during the 1975 power sharing talks the PNC was in control of the government’s machinery and therefore had the responsibility for ultimately implementing a power-sharing government. The same is true today of the PPP who have been in control for the past 15 years. The fact is that Mr. Burnham, the PNC chief, is dead we will never know his thoughts first hand. Dr. Jagan, the PPP chief, is dead and we will never know his thoughts first hand. The fact that second tier leaders of the PNC are talking makes the history vivid. We are appreciative of it. The fact that Mrs. Jagan, a first tier leader, is still alive, makes it even more urgent that we hear her role and thoughts of the PPP.
From October 1992 under Dr. Jagan the PPP assumed control of the government’s machinery.
The PPP campaigned on a platform that “Winner will not take all” and “No recrimination no discrimination.” It is clear that the PPP had a greater moral responsibility for changing the political landscape. Many got on board and gave the PPP support because they were led to believe a power sharing government would be realised after October 1992. On assuming office Dr. Jagan reneged on his pre-elections promises, destroyed goodwill, winner continues to take all and widespread recrimination and discrimination became the order of the day.
Herein resides the dialectic of what the PPP clamoured for in pre-October 1992 and have been doing from post October 1992. In honesty, it must be said that those second tier leaders of the PNC, who are now first tier leaders have always publicly advocated a power sharing model. They fought publicly and within their party and got the party leadership, and most importantly, Mr. Hoyte to say that “its time has come.” There is no corresponding relationship and fight from the PPP’s younger leadership, including President Jagdeo. Why is this so?
Why we aren’t under a power sharing model government inspite of the PPP’s 1992 elections campaign promises and 1975 talks, should be examined. I say to Mr. Ogunseye that as the days unfold, the PPP comes across as the ones who were/are not genuinely committed to power sharing but may have used the issue to gain political mileage. The power sharing talks offered another platform. Mr. Burnham not calling their earlier “bluff” just served to delay the inevitable. In hindsight Mr. Burnham may have made a tactical error.
I hope that the AFC and JFAP have read Mr. Ogunseye’s letter- they would be enlightened about the PPP’s international strategy to protest the 1973 rigged elections. There is a potent lesson to learn and emulate.
Yours faithfully,
Osafo Modibo
