The dissatisfaction, expressed publicly, by the former Alliance For Change Berbician activist and one line in a recent Stabroek editorial have given rise to the following comments today.
To me, the virtual revolution in moral values wherein right has relinquished its virtue to wrong; wherein role-models are often those who are “successful” through immoral and illegal schemes; whereby even the struggling, well-meaning, religious righteous are compromised by an existence predicated upon the rule and authority, influence and wealth of the wicked; are all contributory to the subtle corruption that is the politics of patronage.
Even though Guyanese society is really a less-than-one-million diverse grouping, where some can know something “confidential” about many, there is an accommodating, enabling environment for greed, graft, bribery and such other negatives providing the breeding ground for Party-card connections and sweet-heart, job-for-the-boys politics and patronage.
Caribbean Man of Letters George Lamming once discussed the phenomenon of the poor West Indian politician gaining office, authority and power- many times suddenly.
Lamming concluded then – in the sixties, seventies – that when the West Indian/Third World aspirant achieved high office, one of two things happened to him. Or both. He knew not what to do with such instant, comprehensive authority – after all, politicians need no (academic) training or qualifications to become Ministers of Government – so he had to struggle to learn on the job. Sometimes inexperience combined with incompetence to produce mediocre, or worse, grossly stupid governance.
On the other hand, Lamming noted, many of those catapulted to executive, governmental authority quickly learnt the ropes of corruption, greed and get-rich-quick treasury manipulation. We in good old Guyana have a three-month still “new” government. What with promises of transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and Codes of Behaviour for all senior servants of the State, hopes run expectantly high for a refreshing change in our national political culture and general governance. But dare we -electors and citizens – hope, with confidence?
Patronage: Bound to survive
Commentators have warned that now that a once robust Opposition is now in office “looking back is of no value when the future is dismal. The government will be judged on its performance, not on the PPP’s failure or deceit”.
While at this stage I don’t concur that our future looks “dismal”, I will marvel at the PPP’s barefaced capacity to blame this infant administration for anything catastrophic. Of course, for their parliamentary perks and salaries, the PPP has to demonstrate its opposition gumption. It has readied itself to be less constructive but more hostile. But back to patronage.
One definition of “patronage” actually speaks of “control of appointment to government jobs.” I never considered that specific, as I know patronage to be much broader. Anyhow, when I read the disgruntled AFC defector’s talk of Mr Nagamootoo offering such-and-such position for such-and-such salary, it reeked of open reward for campaign support; job for-a-boy. I know it’s practical after-victory politics but my own values are reluctant to come to terms with such cold realities.
As I leave this issue quoting the Stabroek editorial observation, I trust that all of us citizen-electors will hold the Granger Government to scrutiny and hinder it from the rampant PPP-style patronage. The Stabroek sentiments follow:
“Given too that Guyana even now reflects something of a patronage situation, it is not unusual for citizens of all classes to approach a party for help and/or favours. At least in their heyday, both the large parties in this country functioned in part as a kind of social support system for their constituents. That aside, inevitably, the ambition is to be a ‘patron’ rather than a supplicant, or even just a nonentity within a party, and there is no sense that one individual may be more suited to a post or more competent in a field than another.”
I knew first-hand of patronage and favouritism under the PNC (1968-1991). I saw it taken to vulgar heights by the greedy between 1992 and the other day. Patronage morphed into outright discrimination of all varieties. I know it will not actually end with our current incumbents. But returnees from the Diaspora, for example, should not merely be subjected to “sometimeish” patrons but should be speedily assessed and given opportunity on merit. After all, they were invited!
Delayed development
Silently, perhaps cowardly, impatient even as a PNC supporter, seventies to nineties, I bristled at the impact of political exclusion. It stymied national development for decades. We watched little places – Suriname, Barbados, Antigua – with not as much rivers, trees, gold, bauxite, manganese, diamonds as we had, but just beaches and hurricanes – fly pass us on the upward economic ladder of success and standards of living.
Hence my limited applause when I see the successful completion of national projects and the consequential outpourings by ruling politicians and their loyal supporters. Frankly Speaking, to me, they were years overdue.
There are numerous elements being put in place to celebrate political, constitutional independence in May of 2016. I trust that over the next eight months specific economic projects are factored in into the “celebrations”. The end of April 2016 must see an employment bureau which provided about 1000 jobs; a reviewed and appropriate constitution about to be endorsed; one or two new roadways; improved opportunities and facilities for both young and seniors. Now you name your ten 50th Anniversary wishes. Okay, yes, both Capital City, other towns and villages must be spruced up, “regulated” and sustained.
A broader, deeper legal reservoir…
Over the past four years I would engage my American-trained “legal” friend in matters related to our local Guyana judicial system. He would explore our Constitution on such issues with me. He claimed that our Chancellor and Chief Justice should never be acting for such an extensive period.
I wonder who appoints our judges, when and how. My friend read my layman pieces on our local judicial system – like The supermarket of justice and Guyana’s judicial system: A world of its own – and sought to educate me. His own litigation found its way to the Caribbean Court of Justice via our own High Court and Court of Appeal.
I always wondered why our Constitutional Court was constituted of only our one over-worked acting Chief Justice. Then ten days before last May 11 National Elections, Candidate Raphael Trotman was called upon to clarify his APNU+AFC party’s manifesto on Constitutional and Law Reform. I was stimulated by Trotman’s explanation to Stabroek News. An excerpt:
“Trotman explained that the coalition feels that the country is in need of a Constitutional Court that is comprised of a full bench of judges. `It is unfair to ask the Chief Justice to hear and determine all constitutional matters, especially those dealing with vexed questions that pertain to the Parliament (National Assembly and Executive),’ he said. Trotman told Stabroek News that as a consequence of this the coalition will explore ways to give the CCJ an `original jurisdiction’ to hear matters of a grave constitutional nature. According to Trotman, the CCJ option will not only be an expeditious process, but it will also broaden the number of minds that will consider the intricate legal issues.”
This layman eagerly awaits these developments, hoping that somehow the nation will be consulted during the process. The Constitution and our Laws do govern all of us.
Ponder….
*1) Opposition Leader Jagdeo made “promising remarks” on Monday. His matter in the High Court is meant to side-step him going back to the Corentyne Court and charming Magistrate. Correct?
*2) What do you know of Joe Singh’s National Task Force?
*3) Commissions of Inquiry like peas! May I get a “hold-on”?
*4) Indirectly related to political patronage, I ask: are the new Ministers dodging their comrades because all campaign promises can’t be met?
*5) Happy successful Carifesta 12 beginning in Historical Haiti today.
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
