Dear Editor,
I wish to commend Opposition Leader Robert Corbin and the PNCR for the massive protest march and rally they organized on Friday April 18, April 25 and on Thursday May 8. These protest actions saw thousands of Guyanese taking the streets to register their discontent with the government’s mismanagement of the economy and to bring the government to the realization that it cannot be business as usual in Guyana when Guyanese continue to bear the brunt of their poor management of the country, the escalating cost of living and the frightening crime and security situation.
The PNCR and its leader had been castigated by some for not taking to the streets to demonstrate against the PPP/C lame-duck, backward policies.
Some claimed that people would not follow Corbin’s call for a protest.
Others lamented that the PNCR had become such a weak organization that its leaders did have not the spine or the know-how to motivate its members and supporters to take decisive protest action. However, since many of these theories seemed to have borne no fruit, other explanations were imported attacking credibility and intentions of Robert Corbin. One of these claimed that Corbin was negotiating a government position with Jagdeo, and that Sam Hinds would be asked to step down and Corbin would be given the position as PM.
What these critics failed to see was that this supposed ‘inaction’ has been a positive strategy which has further exposed the government and demonstrated that the PPP/C regime is visionless when it comes to moving Guyana forward. In fact, this period provided an opportunity for the world to see that the current administration has no clue about managing a country.
The PPP/C has over the years claimed that its efforts to attract investment to Guyana had been affected by the protest action of the PNCR; that it was because of protest that crime-fighting and the nation’s security had been jeopardized; that it was PNCR protest which caused Guyanese to jump on a plane and leave all their property behind; and that because of protest prejudice and hate emerged. The government claimed that the “slow fire” slogan, attributed to the late Desmond Hoyte was responsible for no progress in the country. Practically, every fault of the government was blamed on protest.
So the current leadership of the PNCR, in their wisdom, gave the government the benefit of the doubt, and allowed them a protracted protest-free period to demonstrate their ability to protect the Guyanese people and manage the economy. Corbin, in the party’s quest for a cohesive society, engaged the President and was meeting regularly with him to arrive at consensus on a number of issues aimed at fostering a spirit of co-operation with the government. Many, including the PPP/C spin doctors lambasted him for taking this step; many claimed that he engaged Jagdeo out of weakness, but the fact is the party put the country and people of Guyana first, so “constructive engagement” became the order of the day. As a result there was a joint communiqué, which followed the earlier one signed by Desmond Hoyte, who had also engaged Jagdeo in a similar manner and for a similar cause.
What has resulted is massacres and killings, the return of death squads and gunmen, allegations of torture by the joint forces, and so much more. On the economic side there is 16% VAT, an escalation in the price of basic food items, fifty per cent of citizens living below the poverty line, a non-liveable minimum wage, a lack of jobs for young people, no major investment since Omai, massive corruption in state agencies, and various scams, etc.
On the political front there has been a suppression of press freedom as a means of silencing the government’s critics through the denial of state ads to SN, and the President’s order to close down Sharma’s CNS 6; the President and Minister of Home Affairs questioning and lambasting the judicial system; the victimization of certain state employees; political appointments which suggest a spoils system; the President’s failure to implement decisions agreed upon more than five years ago with opposition parties, the revival of “apan jat” politics implied in the President’s speech to PPP/C supporters on the Corentyne; MPs ‘dissing’ the speaker; the reduction of Buxton to a political football; stalemate in public service appointments; the stirring of political quarrels in the disciplined forces; heavy political muscle in the education ministry and the failure to implement the communiqués signed by the late Desmond Hoyte and then Robert Corbin, among other unfortunate happenings.
So much has been exposed during the ‘protest lull’ period that Guyanese and all have again been reminded that the problem is not protest but is the government’s lack of a plan for the nation. It is time that all concerned in the fight for a decent, peaceful and sound Guyana come out and demand that the country return to normalcy. Too much political mischief has been allowed to happen for too long.
I have noted that the police issued a statement saying it will take action against the PNCR and its leaders for activities related to the cost of living march. This is the first of a series of unfortunate scare tactics on the part of the government. I guess that every Guyanese had anticipated this move. I wish to encourage all of us to stay focused and disciplined in the noble cause we are engaged in. Let us work to build more bridges as we cross each hurdle.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor
