Dear Editor,
The WPA press statement on the 36th anniversary of Dr Rodney’s assassination notes that the “State continues to be a menace to the citizenry” (SN, Jun 13). However, the statement does not offer any practical, workable solutions to address its complaint – viz violence, criminalization, autocracy and corruption as being exercised by the state. Not much, if anything, has changed from then to now. The WPA is right in pointing out that “ego” is a problem for the new ruling elite, and that genuine efforts are not being made by the new regime to unite the population. But the statement is hypocritical in that the WPA does not hold itself accountable for some of the problems facing the nation. It takes a hands-off approach as though it were not part of the government when in fact it is part and parcel of the government. The WPA has not taken an independent position from that of other forces in APNU. The WPA has morphed into the PNC that now calls itself APNU. The WPA is yet to criticize the government of which it is a part for failing to address the very concerns that it now complains about. That is the epitome of hypocrisy. Some claims in the statement have more holes than Swiss cheese.
The statement says the WPA advocates multi-racialism. It should be noted that while the WPA has formed a coalition with the PNC, it rejected a similar offer from the PPP during the early 1990s. Dr Clive Thomas, the WPA 1992 presidential candidate, who is now a principal advisor to the coalition, rejected an offer by the PPP to be the prime ministerial candidate of a non-racial Dr Jagan. Dr Thomas also rejected an offer to be a Minister (Planning) in Jagan’s cabinet.
The WPA statement says there must be reconciliation between the ethnic groups. But the state targeted Ms Ryhaan Shah, terminating school uniform contracts with her father’s business. The WPA has been silent on that issue. I, myself, was targeted, at the airport. The WPA is silenced by the trappings of office.
The WPA statement says the coalition partnership is genuine. But the record would show that almost every aspect of the Cummingsburg Accord has been violated and AFC partners are treated with contempt. And there is much discord among supporters of the AFC regarding the disrespect meted out to rank and file AFCites.
The statement says the WPA rejects one party dominance. But the coalition is dominated by one party ‒ the PNC. Which of the other parties really has a voice?
It is noted that the WPA advocates power-sharing. But the largest party in the nation is not part of the government and genuine steps are not being taken to bring it into a government of national unity which the WPA says is needed – they quote Elder Eusi Kwayana’s “unite or recede” comment. This is a betrayal of what Rodney stood for, ie, national (ethnic) unity. The WPA needs to do a lot more than issuing statements to bring about national unity. It must pressure the government to take measures to bring about power-sharing among the ethnic groups.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
