Oh that much longed-for, or sought-after condition, or status. My old Oxford provides fourteen definitions for the noun (and verb) that is power!
From “ability to do or act”, to “vigour, energy, active property”, to “government, influence and authority”, and “political ascendancy and authorization over others,” “power” seems so welcome to those who can acquire it by reason of birth and inheritance, by influencing, inveigling or persuading others to repose it in them, or just by might and wealth. Look around your own community, around Guyana and the world and identify individuals or groups whose life seems, or is actually dedicated to acquiring, maintaining, then wielding power. (Not mere functional authority but, pervasive dominion and power over others.)
But why this “sermon” in this my first offering for 2012 – and in this column’s anniversary month?
I suppose it is how the year dawned politically and because this past Sunday Stabroek Editorial pre-empted my views (naughtily). Yes I planned to share brief comments on this perennial phenomenon of power versus service.
In the Sunday editorial, “Ten New Year wishes – for politicians”, the Editor’s eighth wish is put like this: “One would hope too that the politicians never forget again that those they serve in the first instance are not their parties, but the citizens of Guyana. Their primary purpose is not, as some of them seem to think, to ensure their party’s accession to or perpetuation in office – let alone their own; it is to play a part in the government of this country, and they are obliged to discharge that function to the best of their ability. The eighth wish, then, is for less obsession with power and more obsession with service and performing a job efficiently.”
Power first, service later?
Since passing fifty-five and sixty-five, I’ve gone on about too many Members of Parliament being in the House for themselves. To me, frankly speaking, after the first few months, their status in the Assembly becomes the vehicle for their own ambitions. Service to the electorate and rest of populace? (“Oh shucks, the campaign and my party did put me here to work for the country! Nearly forgot!”)
Since I plan to be both brief but pointed, I reiterate that too many of our politicians from all parties are all about power. Forget about power-sharing! They should be about service! Sure, power, status, authority are avenues to providing service to people but just examine the negotiating, the horse-trading. Even before the politicians get into the Parliament.
Then there are the party/media reports about selection and choices. Frankly speaking, to me it’s all about who gets to share and wield some power over us – the poor, the powerless, the dispossessed. We who were the “electors” to put the power-hungry right where they crave to be.
Let’s pray that those put up to be our decision-makers, the politicians, government and parliamentarians, work in our interest, at least for much of the time. Power seems to do something (wrong) to some minds. It corrupts the desire and strength to serve. Power-hungry, power-filled leaders seem never wanting to leave. Saddam, Gaddafi, Mugabe, Mubarak, Castro, Chavez – why do they want to perpetuate their status, seemingly forever? I submit that power then becomes some form of illness! Consider my submission, as you experience, this month, how our politicians, especially, acquire, then use their power – allegedly on our behalf.
Oh, check out the struggles for power in local cricket and football. Discuss…
Making manifestoes reality
I suspect that today’s eighteen-plus Guyanese will not be aware of the illustrious Speakers who presided over various forms of our Parliament in the country’s past.
I’ve blessed my interest in knowing them and about them. (You do the research young journalists.)
Perhaps I’ve missed the principle, but I do know that our Assembly’s Speaker must be knowledgeable in parliamentary and constitutional procedures. Thoroughly! A Speaker has to immerse him/herself in the parliament’s standing orders. Even as personal discretion or interpretation is exercised, it has to be within the guidelines of the Assembly’s Standing Orders or regulations. This means that the Speaker must be “legal”, objective – and impartial!
Do you get the impression that the politicians are looking – or looked – for such an individual?
As is my hobby (or wont?), I have saved the campaign 2011 manifestoes of the PPP/C, the APNU and the AFC.
I can appreciate easily, that the possession and ability to exercise governmental and legislative power will assist in executing and achieving all those manifesto-election promises. I will examine and publicise aspects of all three manifestoes, especially the plans and promises common to all three.
In or out of government, the parties must pursue their manifesto promises and national programmes. After all, these promises – less VAT, increased pensions, more hinterland development, fighting entrenched corruption, lessening crime – speak to the welfare of the nation – politics, race and parties notwithstanding. So look out for my manifestoes and reality series.
Just imagine…
Do the APNU-affiliated Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) activities really originate from that post-election group alone?
For eventual presidential and leadership power they hope, the American Republican Party, after more than twelve debates, began its retail politics through woo-the-people on the ground caucuses and primaries. What a thorough attempt to find one good man (woman) to contest President Obama’s position.
Please President Ramotar, identify and appoint some high-ranking officials, from outside of the PPP!
How are the young journalists coming along with finding out just who are the managers of the current elections? How do we get the GECOM chairman?
Cocaine accused are freed by the court because their names “disappeared” from the case jacket! So is no one to be penalized for the “disappearance?”
Name ten stores which do not support Mashramani.
Coming next week: “Boycotting Mash, promoting APNU-Greenami.”
’Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)