Dear Editor,
Members of the PNCR will soon vote for their party’s leader and all Guyanese are watching. The reality is, being the major partner in APNU, the PNCR’s choice of leader will likely determine which party wins at the next general elections. More importantly, it could decide Guyana’s course of development for at least the next five years.
Most will agree that Guyana is underdeveloped and in disrepair. And truth be told, most of our woes are the result of our own selfish, self-serving, shortsighted choices. In the past, we have collectively chosen our party and national leaders based on answers to superficial and frankly, stupid questions, such as: ‘Who do I like, which leader has my skin-colour, who do I want to lead me?’ Well, how about if we put aside the ‘I’ and ‘my’ and ‘me’ for a while – being self-centred has never worked well for Guyanese – and ask ourselves instead, what is best for our party and our country?
All patriotic Guyanese will agree that ethnic division has been terrible for Guyana; we have nothing to show for half a century of independence. And even the most ‘conservative’ PNCR supporter will acknowledge that the PNCR and APNU cannot win a general election without crossover and swing-voter support. Given these facts, it is immediately obvious that there is really only one sensible choice of party leader – one who can attract support from all ethnic groups, win an electoral majority, form a government of national unity, and kick-start national development.
We remember a time, not long ago, when many people, particularly Indo-Guyanese, were afraid of a PNCR government. This was so, owing to the racially divisive rhetoric of some self-serving politicians. The PNCR has made positive changes under the leadership of David Granger; members can now elect their leaders in a democratic process and the party is now part of a broad-based partnership under the APNU umbrella. Perhaps most importantly, the PNCR leader has articulated a policy of meritocratic inclusionary democracy which, if implemented, could dramatically change Guyana’s political landscape for the better. This policy defines the PNCR and APNU, and sets the coalition apart ideologically, from the other parties. Today, thanks to David Granger’s policy of inclusion, many Indo-Guyanese and others are no longer afraid; the prospect of a united Guyana is finally becoming a reality. No intelligent person would want to reverse course and give up those gains.
We have heard at least one potential PNCR candidate say that he wants to, “take the party back to its roots.” The question is, what roots? Is he talking about taking us back to the days of ethnic division, race-based politics and fear? Do we want to move backwards instead of forward? Is Guyana not backward enough?
Guyana seems to be stuck at the bottom of the economic ladder; our people are the poorest in the English-speaking Caribbean. We only get attention for bad things; drug-running, corruption and human trafficking come to mind. Is it not time for us to choose thoughtful leaders who have broad appeal and can unite Guyana? Is it not time to move forward? How long will we fall for political opportunists who appear at election time and want to take us backward?
PNCR members need to be smart citizens; they must elect an intelligent leader who can win crossover votes, otherwise, the party will not see the inside of the Office of the President in the near future. Moreover, PNCR members have the opportunity to demonstrate patriotism, and foster national unity by electing David Granger and endorsing his policy of inclusionary democracy. PNCR members can therefore choose their leader wisely and win the next general election, or they can choose foolishly, alienate swing voters, and continue to sit on the opposition benches, while PPP/C officials laugh all the way to the bank.
Yours faithfully,
Mark DaCosta
