Dear Editor,
1 note with great interest a letter “A return to democracy, we have come a long way” written by my friend John Da Silva.
John is a solid patriot, and sincere to his cause, but alas, caught up by the information handed out by his friends, and fails to see the total picture
First, we need to state that elections free and, or fair constitute only one aspect of a Democratic society. By itself, it is no guarantee for the creation of a free, fair and democratic country.
With racial voting still unhappily with us and our winner take all constitution and philosophy, it makes an authentic democracy here a serious challenge. It requires a high degree of moral strength by the elected leaders.
History shows examples of elected dictatorships, sometimes with a brilliant facade of acceptance by the oppressed; the media being the chief culprit.
Part of such a façade practised well by Roman dictatorships is to provide plenty of entertainment and distracting side shows, for the poor, while the selected few became richer by the day.
So, we had for this year Easter – State sponsored big and small1imes, Mash, special days/weeks for some section, Carifesta X, then comes Xmas then unto Mash 2009.
The test of a modern Democracy is a form of governance in which political and economic power is shared, and where these truly reside in the people and exercised by them through time honoured institutions, their representatives and protocol
The form and operation of our major institutions, long after an election is what really matters. From Parliament to NDCs, they are not real decision making entities – all talk shops. This is not a working democracy.
How the Local Government, the justice, security, health, education and economic systems operate, is the true measure of a democracy.
We can begin by looking at the Local Government system. Here this talk of a return to Democracy becomes ludicrous. As we see in the Capital, if the state hierarchy cannot exercise total control, they stifle and suffocate to near death. Many examples have been given over time
One recent example; the Mayor and City Council managed the Stabroek Car Park, a money-making operation. Without notice, it is seized by a Government Minister. No notice, no consultation, no compensation – what justice – where is the democracy – and worse sealed lips.
The new hotel slated for Kingston has many unhappy features, which we can deal with later. For now two points; the Greater Georgetown Development Plan which the government accepted, was cast aside, to accommodate this hotel with its moral imperative. Mind you, famous Guyanese Eddy Grant expressed an interest in this said area for a Cultural Complex in keeping with the approved plan. We were told to put this proposal on hold.
The Council received not one cent for the Luckhoo Swimming Pool area, which was bequeathed to the Council many years ago, again seized by the state.
While dictat1ng this letter, the contractor working on the Monument to honour the victims of the Cubana Air Disaster called to say that a certain Minister (we call him the bully) told them to stop all works.
We can fill pages with other examples, but democracy also implies a certain openness and rectitude by those who govern. If these are missing, where John is this return to democracy?
The Auditor General office is yet to be adequately staffed to function at its optimum – a vital institution for democracy. But even their reports done by committed officers and with limited staff are ignored.
The Privatization Unit, unless we can have a full disclosure of each and every transaction, they seem to be above all else and a law unto itself. The ease with which the huge sums from lotto are used is the opposite of democracy.
Total control of Radio by the State.
PPP is a wonderful demonstration of our return to Democracy – the State controlled newspaper only publishes articles favorable to the Government – They ease on this policy only, when we have high profile visitors.
Bet your last dollar, this letter would not make the State controlled media.
In the aftermath of the sordid events of Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo, our Head of State promised to engage civil society with a promise to look at the constitutional bodies – an appeasement – end of story – Democracy. If you are not a sycophant, you are unceremoniously removed from Boards.
For the first time the major municipality, Georgetown is not represented on the Water Board. But some minions serve on more than one Board.
Next, what is happening with the confirmation of an Auditor General and Commissioner of Police — sweet, sweet Democracy.
Democracy happens to be one of those words that mean different things to different people.
A lot of hype and celebration took place to celebrate “Our return to Democracy.” Yes, but for who as was the situation described above.
I ask the PPP top brass, their supporters, some of their house slaves, “what about a democracy for the rest of us outside of that grouping?
As one who experienced the heat of the pre-1953 Government, the unfair suspension by the British days after the Jagan/Burnham victory.
An Interim Government -. the mayhem of the 60’s, the stress of the period after, and the expectations after 1992. Guyana has regressed, betraying the lofty promises to preserve our Constitution and establish a democratic state.
Both Jagan and Burnham, back in the early 80’s agreed that a way forward was to open opportunities for the properly elected officials at the municipal (local) level, be given some freedom to manage the affairs of their respective communities.
We expected for over a decade to have the much touted local government reform. This means substantial change.
It is clear that the PPP administration has no interest to invest the Municipalities with any power to manage, mobilise money, and so make a reality of Democracy, where they fear they may not control politically.
What therefore is this chatter of a return to democracy?
The council of Region 4 by vote by majority determined where the headquarters for the Region should be, but Freedom House is not comfortable with its location, so such a democratic decision is ignored and the office goes to a location where the PPP top brass ordered it built.
The Berbice River Bridge
Was this, the same consideration that allowed the Government to ignore an earlier recommendation to build the Berbice River Bridge from Ithaca, West Bank Berbice River to Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice River? Shorter distance, half the cost, better soil conditions with two established communities – why was this location not used? Democracy demands a truthful public response.
The winner takes all system by itself cannot produce a genuine democracy with a party that, since its victory in 1961 boasted and paraded from one end of the country to the other that “awe pon tap”. That attitude, unhappily with some sophistication carries over to this day – we must not forget
By the way a democracy is one where the average ordinary citizen can receive justice, no different from ‘the big’ ones.
See how many poor people are languishing in our prisons, some for years, while if you have connections you can kill with your fancy 4×4 even, driving on Avenues and that’s the end of the story.
Different strokes fur different folks,
Looking at NCN last Thursday night it seems as though we have engaged one of the most expensive consultants, the Mc Kinney Group.
Did this pass through Parliament? How much is the cost?
When will we get the torture report, or hear the whole story of Lindo to have this mystery eye witness known? These issues would have been satisfactorily settled in a viable democracy a long time ago.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, J.P.
Mayor
