Dear Editor,
I wish to respond to the letter published in the SN dated October 9 under the caption ‘PNCR should allow free, and transparent system for selecting its presidential candidate.’ The unnamed writer has decided to make his/her contribution to the advancement of the silly season political agenda, since it is made pointedly clear in the letter that the PNCR has found itself in a position of damned if you do and damned if you don’t. The person attempted to ridicule the PNCR’s presidential candidate selection process by suggesting that a flier and a party member’s open support for one candidate, are sufficient to discredit the process and question its transparency.
It is clear that the PPP/C and some of its friends are nervous about what is unfolding in the PNCR; clearly they are aware that the PNCR is the most democratic political party in Guyana. We do not subscribe to democratic centralism, a process many deem undemocratic; at least we have an election for leaders and not a fifteen-man selection team. Neither do we approve nor embrace a policy of rotation of leadership between the founders of the party, a system which may effectively lock out ordinary members from attaining key leadership positions.
The writer in this letter is seeking to tell the PNCR how to run its political programme; they have already decided that they have a right to determine what should not constitute internal campaigning and what should be deemed transparency in the PNCR. But they must know that the PNCR’s agenda will not be set by those who have no interest in seeing progress in our party. They must know that we the members and supporters of the party will not be bothered by their intention to malign our party’s efforts, even as we embark upon this maiden process and bold initiative. The PNCR and its leadership will continue to embark on bold new initiatives to reform the local political landscape. We understand that our fifty-three years of being the major political institution in Guyana comes with the noble responsibility to be the vanguard institution to lead the nation. We are, therefore, not perturbed or taken aback when we recognize the efforts of some to taint the party. Contrary to what they believe the PNCR will not cower in the face of their aggressive agenda to discredit our actions, since by now, we have grown accustomed to their obvious nit-picking culture. We, therefore, expect to hear that every election in the party is flawed, and this early attempt to question the current process of election must be seen as a pre-emptive strike.
Who are they, to tell us that Ms Bernita Primo, whom they named, cannot openly support Brigadier David Granger, or that Dr Richard Van West Charles cannot openly promote Mr Winston Murray? This is indicative of the kind of unfettered democracy which obtains in the party. It is for the party and its leadership to decide whether any open campaigning should cease with the advent of the process which is in place. I believe these are all strategies to distract the Guyanese people from the reasons they must vote this current regime out. But people are not docile and will not be blinded or distracted by the plotters and their friends. The PNCR is aware that there are those who have no interest in the advancement of the party, and who have already crafted a strategy to discredit the current process underway.
Not even the politically naïve will be distracted by the plots of those who deliberately set out to malign the PNCR, since the overwhelming struggles and sufferings of the people are too great. People are too concerned about their safety and security; their inability to provide for their families; the alarming number of school drop-outs; the massive criminal enterprise and rampant drug trade; massive corruption in government; unthinkable discrimination in every sphere of social and economic life; the disregard for the rule of law; a president who shows blatant contempt for citizens; and the burden of a 16% imposed VAT, among other ills.
So those who are bent on setting the PNCR’s agenda, or who have a keen interest in maligning the party should do the responsible thing and expose the socio-economic quagmire into which this current administration has plunged Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor
