Dear Editor,
So we are employing Communist tactics towards our children in Guyana these days? The Regional Chairman and the ‘usual suspects’ hosted several Christmas parties in the Berbice area recently under the title ‘President Jagdeo Christmas Party.’ Of course, the President was nowhere around – not that we expected anything to the contrary, but he was the star of the show, if a missing one.
The entire affair was aired on you-know-where in Berbice several times, hammering the idea of Communist-like indoctrination further and further. The Regional Chairman said, “President Jagdeo is not here today; he is outside, trying to get more money for you the children.”
Then the children were commanded to repeat: “Merry Christmas President Jagdeo” and “We love President Jagdeo.” I am talking about a packed auditorium of children. The poor little ones, even if they didn’t want to, had to recite all that they were told to recite. He also went on to urge the children to thank President Bharrat Jagdeo “who give you this nice party and the gifts.” All the speeches were political in nature and focused more or less on President Jagdeo. The music which the children bubbled and gyrated to was questionable in nature against the backdrop of Christmas and what it stands for. The children did not know any better and could not be the ones to be blame.
When did we reach such a low stage of politicking in this country? Is the ruling party so desperate for supporters that young children have to be used in such a manner under the pretence of celebrating one of Christianity’s most important festivals? Those things had nothing to do with the true meaning of Christmas. How is the money accounted for fêting all these children and giving them snacks and gifts? Are funds from Region Six being used?
There have been numerous allegations of theft in the regional administration of Region Six and no one either in the media or central government seems to care or is too afraid to expose it.
More cases of political indoctrination in Guyana continue in the media on programmes such as ‘Weekly Digest’ and ‘The [President’s] Diary.’ The graphic scrolls and information on these programmes are intended to paint a fairy-tale picture of life in Guyana. I don’t know who in their right minds watches those things.
But getting back to the issue at hand here, I am sure President Jagdeo would not approve of the manner in which these parties were conducted, and having children repeat politically embedded statements.
One gets the picture that the President, his ministers and regional local government leaders are all at odds when it comes to the decisions being made and the manner in which policies are being implemented.
Politics is something which is a respected and admirable field of social relations; here at home it is being played out as a dirty game fuelled by selfish gains and ambitions. Politicians only care about themselves. They should not involve the kids in it.
Yours faithfully,
Leon J. Suseran
