Dear Editor,

The SN news article, ‘Peter Ramsaroop says quit AFC because of “undemocratic” nature,’ (June 24), which followed closely on the heels of a related article, ‘Ramsaroop leaves AFC,’ (KN, June 22), vividly captures the picture of Mr Ramsaroop, as a man who started out on his return to Guyana brimming with patriotism, professionalism and political potential, but whose judgment as a political play-maker is now being subjected to scrutiny and questioning.

In the KN article, he reportedly said his reason for leaving was political: the AFC does not “support a united opposition which must include the PNC.” Then his reason got personal when he singled out Mr Ramjattan as one who said he will never work with the PNC and further charged that Mr Ramjattan has not displayed the leadership skills needed to be the [party’s] presidential candidate. According to SN, “he also accused the AFC Chairman of being at the heart of many of [these] undemocratic practices and taking stands that were counter-productive to the party.”

It seems more like personality-based issues, and what is quite noticeable or beyond debate is Mr Ramsaroop’s appearance as a political vacillator swinging back and forth and from side to side in search of an ideal spot on which to build. His checkered political history from the PNCR to Guyana Third Force to big tent coalition to the AFC and now back to Vision Guyana and ‘big tent’ or ‘united opposition’ shows he is searching for a spot on which to land and build his political nest.  If no one party can defeat the PPP in 2011, then why are ‘united opposition’ advocates wasting energy attacking the AFC?

Before I address this ‘united opposition’ issue, let me say, deep in my heart, I believe that Mr Ramsaroop, like so many of his fellow Guyanese at home and abroad, wants to see Guyana get better and fast. His heart is in the right place, but his head is where he seems to be having a problem. See, the heart speaks of the emotional or expressive side of man, while the head speaks of the rational or coherent side of man. Whenever the head and heart work in tandem, with the head (the rational) taking the lead role over the heart (the emotional), decisions made can prove fruitful, but the moment the heart (the emotional) takes the lead role over the head (the rational), decisions taken can prove futile, if not frustrating and even fatal (and in this case under discussion, politically fatal). Mr Ramsaroop needs to tone down his emotional side and find that essential balance between his head and his heart, and let his head rule based on wise decisions, because those emotional outbursts on others will come back to bite him.

Where he goes from here will determine whether he learned anything from his past. I understand he reportedly will be seeking to campaign under what he calls a broad alliance under ‘Vision Guyana,’ which happens to be his brain child organization, that previously failed to help deliver what he is again setting out to do. ‘Vision Guyana’ was established long before the 2006 elections, but it was the vehicle that helped Mr Ramsaroop enter the political fray where talks of a ‘third force’ were front and centre. And just when many of us thought he, along with Messrs Raphael Trotman, Ramjattan and others, was going to be part of a huge third force movement and party, he surprised us when he launched the Guyana Third Force platform a week or so before the Trotman-Ramjattan-led AFC was launched. I may be corrected, but I believe Mr Ramjattan’s name was mentioned as having something to do with Mr Ramsaroop’s split from those ‘third force’ talks back in 2005.

There was some confusion as to which was the real third force, but in the end, the AFC emerged as the party that would come closest to representing such a third force concept as it secured six parliamentary seats one year after it was formed. Fast forward to several months ago and we find Mr Ramsaroop linking up again with Messrs Trotman and Ramjattan, this time through the AFC as its CEO. Now, he has quit on these guys again and, just as in 2005, Mr Ramjattan’s name is being called as having something to do with it. Did Mr Ramsaroop join the AFC with the intention of trying to bring the PNC on board as a coalition partner, and then blamed Mr Ramjattan’s refusal to work with the PNC as reason for quitting? If so, this is definitely not fair to the AFC or Mr Ramjattan and it may cause other political play-makers to exercise extreme caution when dealing with Mr Ramsaroop, even if his ‘united opposition’ calls are genuine.

Here is a necessary follow-up for Mr Ramsaroop who is looking to build a coalition that will include the PNC under ‘Vision Guyana’: He was part of this strategy before and it failed, so what is going to be different in the new strategic approach to ensure it will prevail this time around? In fact, here is my ‘gazillion dollar’ question for all advocates of a ‘united opposition’ or ‘big tent’ concept: Since the 2006 elections four years ago, why haven’t these advocates of ‘big tent’ and ‘shared governance,’ such as Messrs Cheddi Jagan, Ramsaroop, Eric Phillips and others of like persuasion, put together a big tent/united coalition or shared governance movement and build thereon? Since these guys firmly believe no one party can pull off a change in 2011, then they need to stop focusing their angry energies at the AFC (one single party) for its stated positions that don’t resonate with theirs. The AFC is a parliamentary party doing what it has to do, and unless these advocates are saying the AFC’s position is stopping them from doing what they want to do, then they have failed before they have even made an attempt. Why can’t they do what they have to do without the AFC and hope the AFC will eventually come around?

Editor, the AFC’s strategy from ‘Jump Street’ was first and foremost to establish itself as a credible political alternative to the ethnic-pandering PPP and PNC. That it got six parliamentary seats one year after it was formed proved that there are people out there who are fed up with the PPP and PNC and want to see real change. It is now up to the AFC to build on its small, yet politically significant, success in 2006. It must be given room for trial and error, (since the PPP and PNC have their fair share), but without losing focus of its purpose and goals, and if there is one thing it has to ensure it is strict adherence to principles and the development of its internal democratic process.

The party took a principled stand at the outset to work with the rotating leadership arrangement and it should be adhered to lest failure to do so is used as ammunition by its enemies and critics to shoot it down as an unprincipled party. It also has to set up internal mechanisms along the way to allow for the rotating leadership system to eventually be replaced by a democratic process that allows presidential candidates be selected from among its most qualified members. Persons wishing to join the AFC should be aware of both the principle and the process mentioned here and not just rush to join then become publicly indignant when they don’t have their way.

Let me close by saying, based on what I read, while Mr Ramjattan (and the AFC) may be understandably reticent about working with the PNC and the PPP (the way they are currently structured), the AFC is open to working with ‘good people’ from either or both parties, so it is not a question of the AFC being unwilling, but being selective. Even Mr Ramsaroop, who walked out on the AFC while levelling unpleasant charges, has an open invitation from the AFC. One news account said, “When asked if the AFC would forge an alliance with Ramsaroop, Ramjattan said that as long as his vision fits the criteria of what the AFC was looking for then they would work with him.”

So all is not lost for Mr Ramsaroop, who seems to have survived the spy cameras saga, which some are now wondering whether it was politically stage-managed, given his choice of main opposition and PNC Leader, Mr Robert Corbin as his defence attorney followed by his stated desire to work with the PNC as his reason for quitting the AFC. I cannot tell him what to do, but it might help his political credibility if he takes a needed respite from making public appearances and utterances, regain his political composure, recalibrate his political compass and then proceed cautiously!

Yours faithfully,
Emile Mervin