This short commentary was inspired by the street protests “mobilized” by the People’s National Congress (PNC) over two days of the last weekend.
(Incidentally, you know that since, say, 1997, the selfish little portion of my nature always tends to feel good and comfortable over the fact that my family all live outside of Guyana’s borders? Especially when I see certain types of demonstrations and protests? But that feel-good emotion is frequently attended by the pain of separation, as I will always lament what migration has done to this once peaceful, innocent land. The beautiful, blighted country that I myself will never leave for good.)
My erstwhile favourite political organisation the PNC – (forget the charade of “R” and “One – G”) – has decided to take to the streets to protest a number of socio-economic/political “issues”. Affecting negatively, they say, “The Guyanese People” . Which people? Or which segment of the population? Of the Constituency? Of the Electorate? We’ll probably return to this aspect a few paragraphs hence. First my personal, informed layman’s observations.
Rights – exploited and misplaced
It is undeniable in this day and age: legally and constitutionally, Guyanese citizens – individually and collectively enjoy the rights to assemble, to free expression, to demonstrate and protest (peacefully). But rights are seldom absolute! Civil and human rights must be expressed with responsibility – and reason. An orderly civilized society has a body of laws and rules to govern behaviour for the greater good. Therefore, one group’s execution of its rights should never impinge upon another’s enjoyment of those same rights. The PNC’s right to demonstrate should not result in disorderly behaviour, violence, traffic chaos and legitimate business and citizens being denied their rights to exist normally. But it happens!
The general perceptions then abound. Perception often is more profound, more plausible, more effective and destructive than reality. So the PNC protests are perceived to be harbingers of terror, fear and tension.
Unfortunately, too often the PNC’s demonstrators make perception reality.
Citizens do get apprehensive, businesses do close, parents do fear for their children’s safety and law-abiding non-protesters do feel their security threatened. All of PNC’s Lurlene Nestor’s letter to the press notwithstanding.
Exploiting the right to picket and protests therefore often becomes misplaced demonstrations of exaggerated outrage. You organize and mobilize your regular supporters to pretend that they are more hurt, affected or outraged by the chosen issues than thousands of others similarly troubled and you probably intimidate and upset a silent majority not given to uselessly burning images and disturbing the peace. Where does that get you? Some short-term redress and official responses?
Of course, it’s not at all about electoral politics. Right, okay, because, to me certain street behaviour ensures that certain political/electoral arithmetic remains the same. Or even better for the government! But then, it is not about numbers or elections – the PNC would tell me.
“Slow fiah boil tough cowheel”
The caption is a Guyanese folk-proverb. It refers to constant consistent pressure eventually softening offensive positions to result in people’s betterment – in this context. Are the PNC street protests justified? They validate their renewed “fiah” strategy by pointing to the specific (alleged) futility of Parliament. The government side’s majority nullifies the best-reasoned arguments and requests. The government only takes notice of physical public displays of displeasure, they say. Close down businesses and the private sector and government then take notice – and respond.
However accurate those PNC arguments and tactics are, I don’t wish a return to the violence – coloured “fiah” politics of the streets. At the risk of attracting their ridicule, I, frankly speaking condemn the burning of the President’s effigy and ignoring the routes approved for the protest march.
It’s premature in the light of the government’s first steps to attend to the food shortages; the Sharma issue is in the courts and there are other non-demonstrative methods to persuade the administration to review salaries, VAT and non-money, poverty-reduction offers.
Perhaps I know and learn a little too much when I see the videos and some live representatives of the PNC Guyanese who take to the streets. Sure they have their rights to be organized and be “outraged”. Oh but I recognize many of them – from protests past.
I only ask of them – at this stage – to consider your Party’s image. Question your Leader’s tactics. If you agree to attract police action and tear-smoke for international viewership and destabilization of the Carifesta environment – and other such negative outputs, don’t later bemoan certain other probable national consequences. Why not make another banner and picket: PNC – Peace, Not Conflict!
Independence – In 1961
Forty-seven years ago in the then Legislative Council of British Guiana, there was a debate on the question of political independence for our “colony”. As we approach our forty-second anniversary of this independence, I will excerpt certain contributions.
The first: “The fundamental fact is that while we have a right to govern ourselves internally, there is still hanging above our head the Sword of Damocles in the fact that the British Government still has the right to suspend our Constitution. The British Government still has the right to legislate for us by Orders-in-Council. We fought against those two reservations when we were in London in 1960.
We pointed out that even under the Dutch Constitution which operated in the country up to 1928 there were no such reservations …
Not only was our Constitution suspended in 1953, we had also a suspension, little known, in 1928, when the Dutch Constitution giving far more powers to the Elected Representatives was taken away and in its place, substituted a Crown Colony Constitution…”
Now who said all the above, 47 years ago?
Until…
1) Peaceful Negotiations Continue (PNC), People’s National Choice (PNC), Promoting a National Carifesta (PNC). Now give five more meanings of the PNC abbreviation.
2) I wonder what the Polygraph/Lie Detector Test official will ask the CANU staff: Do you know any Drug Dealers? Have you ever made contact with Narco-Barons or crooks? (Yes, many …)
3) Lie Detector tests can result in quarter CANU, half Police Force, one-third lawyers. No-no don’t ask me about Opposition, government and Cabinet.
No– no. Have some respect!
4) What’s your current role in the upcoming CARIFESTA TEN right here?
5) In a matter of days – the Guyana Cook-Up Show in another kitchen.
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
