Dear Editor,
The PPP seems to be in full self-destruct mode. Their elections campaign has been one slow-moving disaster. First it was Bharrat Jagdeo’s racist comments at Babu Jaan followed by his unfortunate comparison with the Jagans’ lifestyle, remarks which will forever haunt him and the PPP. In trying to deflect criticism against his embarrassing opulence, Mr Jagdeo inadvertently caused the spotlight to be harshly thrown up on himself, especially with the glaring evidence of the Jagans’ legendary Spartan lifestyle. The deservedly biting responses must have caused even Mr Jagdeo to recoil because he has since retreated a bit, allowing the nominal president some token footage under the limelight.
After this, we have been subjected to some unintentionally hilarious full-page ads such as the one by an IT professional intoning to the young Guyanese to cancel their travel plans because the jobs are here. This message, no doubt as well-meaning and sincere as a political ad can be, seems to have been overlooked by the folks queuing up outside the American embassy every day. There has been the shocking appointment of Ms Harper as prime ministerial candidate. As a career diplomat Ms Harper should have brought a modicum of charisma and personality to the ticket. Instead her singular achievement has been to appear colourless in comparison to the person she is replacing, a remarkable feat in and of itself.
Following closely on that, we have witnessed the unveiling of the candidates’ list, the best and brightest of the party’s family members. We can only be grateful for those whose names they omitted. For me, the candidates’ list typifies a regime that simply does not care what the general populace thinks. Either that or they have simply reached an intellectual dead end.
Having witnessed the pathetic turnouts at Bartica and Linden we can expect the party’s entire machinery on high alert for this weekend’s critical meetings in Essequibo and Berbice. No GuySuCo truck or ethnic epithet will be spared; all the ills of the Burnham era along with other hits from the playlist of a regime in its last death throes will be played out to the hilt on Saturday and Sunday.
But the greatest disaster to befall the PPP remains the venerable General Secretary, the Hon Clement Rohee. The coalition should thank him profoundly were they to win this elections. The man has been a veritable PR nightmare in every single one of his pronouncements. It is hard to believe that this is the public face that the party would want.
It appears that for the PPP there are simply no more undecided voters. The sole purpose of the rest of the campaign seems to be to drive the opposition voters more fervently into the arms of the coalition while causing their own supporters to shake their heads and sigh.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
