Dear Editor,
The interesting thing about reading news, letters and comments about Guyana is not only that we learn what is happening and being discussed there, it is also that we learn, in observing our own reactions to the data and stimuli, much about ourselves. I heard myself say, “Of course,” when I read of Granger’s candidacy. I asked myself why.
David Granger’s declaration of interest in the candidacy for president, would be received by many Guyanese as a sort of epiphany. At long last a heavyweight, we sigh. We continue talking to ourselves. Here, finally is the über-candidate that makes of the coming electoral contest an event that would be worth watching. If I had written that Mr Ramkarran is a particularly persuausive candidate from the PPP side, I now have to add that Brigadier Granger is the match that has emerged from the PNC side.
David Granger speaks ‘to’ the influential African-Guyanese middle class, but also its mass base, in a way that makes for an almost perfect match. The former Brigadier personifies much that the ideal PNC candidate is expected to represent: urbanity, erudition à la Burnham and Hoyte, etc. But also and perhaps most important – authority. A hasty reading of political behaviour on the black side allows us to argue that, for African Guyanese, even if the leader wished to remain humble, ‘earthy,’ he would quickly be re-fashioned to what is expected of a leader. Power and authority would be ascribed.
While Dr Jagan is pictured grounding with his people from his hammock at State House, Mr Burnham, no less humble, is acceptable as image mounted on his horse, with sceptre and crown and purple ink and the trappings of the colonial era upper middle class that we saw as destination as we continued to ‘evolve’ as a group. The social psychology of the two groups is essentially divergent on this point, since it is doubtful that Cheddi would have been taken seriously by Indians had he gone the horse-rider route.
To return to David Granger.
A scholar and warrior and disciplinarian, Granger will embody the kind of authority that makes his mention of re-instituting security credible. Here, the PNC candidate refers to a major concern of the opposition PPP group even as Ramkarran had raised, in prioritising poverty and racial harmony, a major concern of the PNC group.
So far then the two best candidates for the post seem to be addressing concerns that comfort the opposing camp and send a positive signal about the way they would govern.
Brigadier Granger is also, possibly the last man to whom a charge of racism would stick. A cursory glance at his private life reveal a man who also lives the more casual African-Guyanese attitudes to some aspects of race. But he is sufficiently identified with African issues to make him a credible PNC candidate on the score.
Dr Van West-Charles, not qualified because of residency requirements, and Mr Murray are also excellent candidates, so the choices before the PNC electorate are really interesting. We shall see if others will emerge.
We await with interest the AFC candidate to see what he or she brings to the mix.
Yours faithfully,
Abu Bakr
