Dear Editor,
“In Guyana the PPP/C was in office and paid careful attention to developments in South Africa. In 1992 a coalition was not possible with the PNC which was on the political warpath while its leader, Desmond Hoyte, and many others no doubt, harboured enormous personal animosity for the Jagans. The PPP, anxious for a coalition partner, was rebuffed by the WPA and therefore had to settle for the Civic. Even so the forces for triumphalism were too strong at that time in the PPP for any kind of coalition with the PNC.”
That is Mr Ralph Ramkarran, former Speaker of the National Assembly and learned attorney-at-law and political thinker speaking above. He is writing in the context of the venerable Madiba Mandela’s going home, and is making associations between the situation in South Africa and that in Guyana at the passing of the previous regimes. This letter deals with Mr Ramkarran’s rendering of the post-1992 election story in Guyana. It is the second time that he has given the public this version of what, to the best of his knowledge no doubt, took place. I leave aside for the present his reason and his explanation why a coalition with the apartheid regime in South Africa was possible, even helpful, but in Guyana, a much smaller country, it did not happen.
There was never any approach from the PPP to the WPA for a discussion on the post-election situation. The WPA on its own considerations had called for recognition of the PPP government, based on the election results. A prominent member of the PPP made an offer to a leading WPA member of a ministry in the government and that member reported the offer to the WPA. I took the risk of arguing that such a ministry was meaningless and was created for public consumption. As a matter of interest, the PPP never created such a ministry in 1992 or since.
Another member of the WPA executive drew up a document called a Memorandum of Understanding setting out the terms under which the WPA would consider an association with the new government. The WPA considered this document and delivered it to the highest level of the PPP. The PPP did not announce the offer, did not reply to it or make any counter proposals.
The government was formed with a junior partner, Civic, something it created for the purpose.
I have the names the ministry and of the individuals actively concerned.
Yours faithfully,
Eusi Kwayana
