Dear Editor,
Change is constant. Usually attempts to stop change are futile though they may delay the inevitable. In the end change always wins and if I were the PPP/C I would see the writing on the wall, apologize for not doing enough to enhance the quality of life in Guyana and sincerely reach out to those would like to be involved in charting the best course for the people of Guyana.
Also if I were a reputable member of the PPP I would reach out to similar persons and other sources of support to save my party from the inevitable collapse that awaits it. I would seek a return to the legacy of Jagan and the hope of one Guyana where all people are treated equally, earn livable wages and identify with each other through our shared vision and struggle.
The PPP/C government as well as the party will implode if both do not recognize that the public at large is clamouring for and prepared for change, yet the PPP/C continues to resist this change by trying all manner of excuses and derogatory strategies. There should be change in the form of four broad areas: (1) an increase in wages and disposable incomes, (2) constitutional change to ensure greater coalition and more effective representation in government, (3) the right to manage their own affairs at the community and regional levels and (4)change from the land of six peoples to the land of one people – ie, proactively orient our culture towards one shared identity influenced by our unique cultures.
Throughout my living history I cannot recall a political party in Guyana that had such a great opportunity handed to them on a plate as the PPP/C had in 1992; even the PNC did not have the overwhelming support of Guyanese when it first came to power some 50 years or so ago. In 1992 Guyana was ready to be democratized, prepared to take off with increased wages, inclusive governance, and a redefining of our national identity and ethos. Civil society, the international community, the private sector and many other groups were prepared to and did work with the incumbent PPP government to bring about the change it promised. Unfortunately the PPP used and abused this trust by opting instead to focus on consolidating its power through greed, corruption, nepotism and centralizing its governance so that no major initiative, change or action could be taken without first the blessing of a minister and in some cases the cabinet. This is not democracy, this is autocracy with power concentrated in the hands of the president and cabinet.
The Guyanese people will not forget the young men killed and for whom justice has not been served; we will not forget that for 17 years the PPP/C Government has withheld local government elections from the people; certainly we will not forget the deals to finance government projects; and we will not forget how Baishanlin continues to exploit our forests and people.
We will not forget the hundreds of young people without hope for a better future, some of whom commit suicide because they cannot find an adequate job or they feel restricted by life in Guyana. This has led to Guyana being a suicide nation. On top of this we are already a narco-state, known worldwide for our drug smuggling notoriety. We will not forget the revelations which emerged during Roger Khan’s plea deal with a US court. We will not forget the stealing of community and ancestral lands, placing them in the hands of friends of the PPP. We will not forget the manipulation by the PPP to control a number of regional and neighbourhood democratic councils through the appointment of PPP majority interim management committees. We the people will not forget the senseless deaths of a number of our young men like Yohance Douglas caused by the deteriorating culture of the police force under the watch of the PPP/C, a horrible state of policing we have never witnessed in Guyana before. We will not forget the strategy to keep the majority of the population dependent on the generosity of the PPP/C Government by providing handouts like the 10,000 school vouchers, arbitrary annual 5% wage increases in the public service to cover inflation, when a more empowering approach would be to ensure people earn more than enough money to save and spend on desired items such as vacations after deducting their living expenses.
Yours faithfully,
Mike Archer
