Dear Editor,
Stabroek News would not publish a news story based on unnamed ‘sources’, let alone make it the lead story, if this newspaper was not fully satisfied that its ‘sources’ are believable. And that’s why the Thursday, July 8 story, “Third term raised at Freedom House meeting—sources,” deserves as many responses from Guyanese at home and abroad.

Personally, I have been harping on this issue, nearly as much as I have on the Low Carbon Development Strategy, because it is an issue with dire consequences for our nation if it is allowed to go unchallenged. This issue must not get past the public discussion stage and become a reality, because it smacks of sheer personality politics and says nothing about the benefit to the public.

If SN’s ‘sources’ are to be believed that President Bharrat Jagdeo was present at the Freedom House meeting when the third term subject was discussed, but he did not interrupt the conversation by reiterating his previously stated position to step down in 2011, then it means he is not to be trusted. Everything he said in the past about not seeking a third term should be thrown out the window.

I don’t know who the members of this ‘small group of influential PPP leaders’ are that made the case for a Jagdeo third term at the meeting, but it has to be deeply disconcerting that the President was present when anyone or group showed up with such a proposal. It’s almost like he was part of the entire agenda on that day.

I hold no brief for the PPP, but for its leadership to ever acquiesce to such a proposal, given the manner in which the President appeared to have separated his government from the PPP, demonstrates the complete loss of principle and or erosion of the backbone in the party. Then again, that meeting may ominously also be the ice breaker that could lead to the splitting of the party with factions for and against the President.

Editor, no one can convince me that Guyana needs President Jagdeo beyond 2011 because only he can successfully undertake areas of Guyana’s economic management. He had eleven years to do exactly this and the report card on his overall performance does not recommend him for a third term. Marriott Hotel and LCDS are not considered major money earners right now, but potential money earners, and after 11 years Guyanese cannot keep living on the promise of potential income earners. By the way, just how many hotels does Guyana need for tourism to blossom? What are the current hotel occupancy rates?

Meanwhile, it has to be extremely troubling that the same ‘sources’ have noted that at least seven PNCR parliamentarians have already been identified to help back the PPP’s 36 parliamentarians  in providing the two-thirds majority needed for a constitutional amendment leading to a third term for President Jagdeo.

I don’t know if the PNC Leader is in on this, but since the PNC Leader said he is not running for President, or does not support the President for a third term, then he needs to go one step farther and say whether he will accept a prime ministerial or other cabinet level slot in a shared governance deal. So far, we have had the President’s word and the PNCR Leader’s word on this matter, and if they turn out to be anything different, they should not be trusted or supported in their personal quests hereinafter. My past letters have raised enough questions on these two men, so I need not elaborate on my suspicion of those past secret talks between the President and PNCR Leader, both of whom now have generous retirement benefits packages if possible third term and shared governance plans don’t  pan out.

Finally, I would really like to know who the ‘international backers’ of the President’s third term push are, because they sure are removed from the political and economic reality in Guyana. This President has no viable vision for Guyana; only himself. Let him stick to his promise to step down and go seek that international job he talked about. Let his ‘international backers’ write letters of recommendation as he goes job hunting in 2012.

One thing about dictatorial types is that they just don’t know when to quit, so they have to be shown the door!

Yours faithfully,
Emile Mervin