Since Sunday, after the PPP’s announcement identifying President Ramotar’s Prime Ministerial running mate, speculation has been vigorously rife on two fronts: Why and how was that quiet-spoken, charming professional chosen? And why – in Heaven’s name – did she accept such a high profile political offer?
Not since Joe Hamilton’s 2011 defection from his PNC, whose anti-PPP street protests he led in 97/98, has such a campaign/political move caught me by impressive surprise. You see, I actually knew this lady reasonably well! When she was in the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Registry (1976-1980) I liked her colleague and best-friend Marilyn. We all shared convivial “gaff” at the nearby Public Service Club. She married the cricketer and I followed her stellar career as a rising Foreign Service star. Now this!
But her relatively shocking electoral role affords me another opportunity to discuss, yet again, another phenomenon in the area of top-ranking public service by those who (seemed to) compromise their personal integrity, character and professional dignity. I’m still intrigued by such developments. However, here is the context.
Integrity, Political altar, why?
The definitions–book refers to “integrity” as “adherence to a code of values; soundness; incorruptibility.” Frank Fyffe from Linden, also sought to explore my wonderment. Why would non-politicians, gentlemen and ladies like Sir Shridath Ramphal, Mohammed Shahabuddeen, Dr Kenneth King, Dr Ashni Singh (?), Desrey Fox, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Winifred Gaskin, Hubert Jack, Frank Hope, Cecilene Baird, Dr Monty Harper, Joe Tyndall, Stanley Moore, Tony Xavier and Rudolph Insanally, among dozens of other decent professionals of desireable character, join and serve governments that were formed by political parties and leaders obviously guilty of such behaviours as electoral fraud and theft, racism, discrimination, enabling criminality, executive, unconstitutional lawlessness, mismanagement of national resources and corruption? Why do they do it?
As I recall that even a young attorney, Desmond Hoyte eventually succumbed to Forbes Burnham’s enticements to become a reluctant politician, let me speculate about why the decent joins the devils.
First of all, the professionals will point out that allegations of evil, institutionalised misconduct were never legally proven in any court. Secondly, and to them persuasively and profoundly, these ladies and gentlemen will tell you that they teamed up with the politicians and their governments because their patriotism directed that they serve their people and country with their considerable expertise.
So even if the governing party practised, or practices, racial partisanship, judicial intrusion, gross mismanagement and incompetence, the professional government member will claim that he/she is there to “correct” that. After all, they might also claim, if politics is so dirty, it needs clean upright, God-fearing citizens to sanitise governments and parliaments.
Of course, there are those who compromise their previous youthful values for plain, selfish greed, self-improvement, family comfort and general aggrandizement.
I always held “knowing” views relevant to the defection to the PPP by such former aggressive opponents like Nadir, Ramsammy, Gopaul, Lumumba, Ramsaroop, Haynes then Hamilton. There will be others that “circumstances” will influence to defect. (In other worst dictatorships, you’ll find a few decent public servants.) and I understand. Teixeira, Westford, Webster or Sukhai serving their PPP. But my self-imposed mystery surrounds the “new” Elisabeth Anne Harper. I speculate further.
Concerning candidate Harper
I suspect that PNC Minister Monty Harper was related to the late journalist Henry “Hank” Harper, father of former cricketers Mark and Roger. Now Mark’s wife Elisabeth has taken the Harper name into the PPP.
Why? Couldn’t Freedom House agree on “one of their own”? Will her decency/innocence attract the female and youth vote? How will she fare on the hustings? She will attract some ridicule but it will be tough to assault her character or her right to make her decision(s)
What does she think of the PPP over the last two decades? As his professional foreign policy adviser, travelling with him globally for years, what does professional, now candidate Harper think of economist, former president Dr Bharrat Jagdeo?
Dammit, give me a call Mrs Harper, Prime Minister-in-waiting.
Pre-election watch
I appreciate that the behaviour of the political aspirants and the tone and culture of the election campaign itself constitute an important assignment for election watchers, managers and monitors.
However I revert to my pleadings to responsible journalists – some of whom were actually “guided” the other day – to maintain continuous interest in the affairs of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)
GECOM’s challenges must be the nation’s business at this time. So consider just these few issues, journalists: what is the “methodology” the CEO has for preventing persons from voting in the name of the deceased still on the list? (Is it embargoed or confidential?)
The GECOM CEO also reminds that the Commission’s disbursements “needed the approval of the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon”. (What an important functionary!) And ask the CEO what he meant when recently he said that “…..hiring temporary staff is complicated and training difficult”. Go to it Reporters and Journalists. And remember GECOM, Uncle Allan is there to help.
You should ponder…
*1) Assuming – just pretending – that the PPP wins by May 13. Would Mr Rohee and his Freedom House comrades respect Prime Minister Harper when President Rabindranath is out on one of his numerous overseas “trips”?
*2) Name two new defectors about to leave APNU for the PPP. Who from Freedom House will join Old Comrade Moses?
‘Til next Week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
