Dear Editor,
It is very clear what Mr Eusi Kwayana means in pushing his revealing suggestion that “Hoyte exiting political power is apology enough” in his letter to SN of June 6 titled ‘The preamble to the Guyana Constitution commits us to finding a system of governance which permits “broad-based participation in national decision-making.”’ He has not given up any resolve to achieve political power based exclusively on race-based entitlements.
In Mr Kwayana’s sarcastic riposte at Prime Minister Sam Hinds he derisively claims “the PPP/C’s wise Prime Minister is likely to respond wisely to the PNCR with a call for an apology. Apology can rightfully arise from the findings of an investigation of the past, best authorized by a national government. I would only state that the PNC in 1992 conceded a fair election and a fair count and paid the political price. That was more than a verbal apology.”
What is more ominous is Mr Kwayana’s reborn alliance and the fact that he is seemingly speaking on behalf of the PNC. Mr Kwayana cannot seriously believe that the black-based PNC giving up power democratically makes ‘all now forgiven, no apology necessary‘ for 28 years of PNC wrongs, economic mismanagement, the Guyanese exodus and the assassination of the legendary Dr Walter Rodney and others.
Mr Kwayana is absolutely wrong and out of touch. Someone or leaders must be held accountable. Mr Kwayana’s exhortations would have more credibility and actually be more analgesic if South Africa’s example of a Truth and Reconcilliation Commission (TRC) were emulated. White South Africans giving up political power was never acceptable to blacks in itself, but rather only became palatable when their tormentors appeared before the TRC and all
confessed their sins. It explains why blacks felt empowered to forgive white South Africans and vice versa. Why not the same for Guyana?
What Mr Kwayana has seemingly accomplished is to effectively demolish any judicious claim for any compensation, reparations or entitlements by all black people worldwide because of his nonsensical logic for political power. President Desmond Hoyte giving up power by democratic
means cannot equate to an adequate apology and confession of the PNC’s 28 year destruction of Guyana. Such a Kwayana no-brainer is a flagrant denial and fails to acknowledge that it was father George Bush (US President) who wanted democracy to prevail in Guyana and which made a significant difference. Contrast this new development where President Desi Bouterse
was put on trial for political crimes but Suriname legislators granted him amnesty in April 2012.
Until Guyana can move on to a calmer political civility with its past effectively put to rest it is very difficult to embark on a peace road which South Africa has pioneered.
Yours faithfully,
Vassan Ramracha
