Dear Editor,
Dr Randy Persaud’s satirical letter, ‘The PPP leaders should take the disillusionment in the diaspora seriously,’ (SN July 3) that both poked fun at the government and pointed factually at what is happening in the diaspora, perhaps more so in New York City where several thousand Guyanese reside, has to be widely known to the PPP leaders. If not, then the PPP leadership is in for a big surprise come 2011.
But if Guyanese supporters of the PPP in the diaspora are disillusioned, what about those supporters at home, living through the disappointment? Could it have been a sign the PPP support base in Guyana was already dissatisfied when, according to one 2006 post-election analysis, a significant proportion of the PPP voter base stayed home rather than turn out to vote, even though the government mandated the day be a national holiday for maximum voter turn-out?
But being disenchanted is only one side of the diaspora’s reaction; there is another side that needs to be addressed: What can the diaspora do to make a genuine difference? Talking is one way to start any process towards change, but should they now launch a signature campaign via the internet urging the PPP leadership to recall the President at the party’s August congress?
At this juncture, it is clear that the President is part of the disillusionment problem so he certainly cannot be part of the solution; this then leaves the PPP leadership as the only legitimate source left to address the disillusionment.
But it appears as though even the solution has a problem: so far the PPP leaders either are unable or unwilling to deal with the President’s problems in a pragmatic manner. If it is based on their inability, then it may be reflective of a lack of some legal/constitutional mechanism in the party to deal with the President.
While the national constitution does provide a mechanism for the removal of the President, it is not clear whether the PPP’s constitution provides a mechanism for recalling a candidate who becomes President.
Interestingly enough, after the 2006 elections, both the PPP/C and PNCR passed legislation giving them the authority to recall MPs, but there was no legislation for the recall of party leaders who are MPs or who are candidates eligible for the presidency or who become president.
If the PPP leaders are unwilling to deal with the growing disillusionment, then it means the President either has a lock on the political power base of the party, thereby making leaders afraid of the President, or they standing back and watching him flounder. I really cannot see any acceptable reason why they appear this disconnected.
A signature campaign addressed to the PPP leadership may yet be futile, but it could at least bring greater attention to government’s handling of the crime situation.
At the same time, we also have to be mindful that there is still quite a number of overseas-based Guyanese who stand firmly behind the President and the PPP, no matter what is happening in criminal circles, and though these supporters may openly criticize the President and the PPP, they prefer not to see substantial changes made that could result in a new party in government.
And this is the crux of several views I have encountered, especially among supporters of the President and the PPP. In fact, when non-supporters vent against the President and the PPP on crime, supporters react in anger charging the non-supporters with backing the criminals or the PNC. Some go a step farther and invoke hatred of Indians as reasons for virulent criticisms of the President and the PPP.
They seem to want instant change but without making important choices.
Mr Editor, I am of the growing opinion that President Jagdeo is facing a credibility crisis among his security forces. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the army, yet the security forces, which outnumber the criminal gangs, appear more unwilling than unable to seriously put an end to criminality.
Many of these officers know there is widespread corruption in government and the President is not going after these types of criminals. There is, in trying to understand this state of corruption, an economic imbalance in society in which some have and others do not have, and some of those that do not have are resorting to the worst means possible – guns – to get a piece of the pie.
If the security forces will not address this crime issue with conviction, the PPP leaders must come up with a temporary replacement for President Jagdeo and a new political strategy for dealing with socioeconomic problems; if not, this untenable situation could well fester into 2011, and create major headaches, not just for the PPP, but for the entire country.
Yours faithfully,
Emile Mervin
