Dear Editor,
There have been a flurry letters in the newspapers by PPP executive member Mr Clement Rohee as well as a press briefing, most recently about corruption and why the PPP paid the price at the last poll for neglecting groundwork in some areas of the party strongholds.
There is indeed a problem within the PPP. It must not be swept under the carpet with the pretence that it does not exist. At the same time, corruption must not be seen as an unsolvable problem. What needs to be done is to recognise the problems and then implement certain drastic measures to correct the situation.
No one can dispute that there are enormous problems facing the party generally, and there is often cynicism on the part of decision-makers towards members on the ground and mistrust among supporters in terms of them going out and voting. Many tend to view the party after the death of Dr Jagan in rather negative terms. There are serious concerns around how longstanding members are being treated differently, in comparison to some opportunists who go for a position rather than act on principle like those of us who fought for the restoration of democracy. Businessmen in those days used to say they wanted nothing to do with the party and the Jagans.
The party ran an expensive and aggressive campaign in 2011.The main target grouping was young urban people, many whom were not interested in voting for the PPP, while the party campaign managers and big wigs at the central and executive levels were neglecting the supporters. Mr Donald Ramotar was cocksure of victory, and so indulged in excessive optimism and over-confidence. He went into the race with a new breed of PPP ‒ literally an unknown team. The PPP is losing support. Apart from conflicting interests at the leadership level, there are growing contradictions between the PPP leadership and the rank-and-file as a result of corruption.
The people have been brought to a new level of political consciousness, and added to this is the discontent owing to growing poverty and fear engendered by the misuse of power. This fear though not expressed openly ran through the rank-and-file of the PPP as much as it did the non-PPP Guyanese.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
