Because I had had enough of Bharrat Jagdeo’s direct and covert rule and dominion over Guyana’s resources and destiny in 2015, I voted for the best of the bad lot – Granger/Nagamootoo in 2015.
I even allowed the marriage-of-convenience-coalition all their “mis-steps”, blunders and early excesses between May 2015 and May 2018. My disappointment was easily degenerating into despair by 2018, three years after the ascension. Next month His Excellency will “celebrate” four years in office. Frankly Speaking, both his die-hard, tribal followers and members, as well as casual supporters – like myself – should wonder if the celebration would be an unknowing tribute to a clever, wily, benign autocracy in the making. Why do I wonder?
No not the instant salary increases for ministers and MPs weeks after His Excellency’s assumption. Not the removal of GPL/GWI subsidies for pensioners or the year-end gifts of monetary school vouchers to parents, or soldiers’ Christmas bonus. Not even the ethnic-biased appointments of Permanent Secretaries or the placement of two/three dozen former GDF Officers – all well-qualified. No, not those. Nor even the arbitrary painting of the official town green.
Rather, autocratic indicators easily include: (1) His Excellency’s single-minded choice of his GECOM chairman. Even the politically blind could have foreseen the obvious. (2) As all strongmen politicians do, his naming of carefully chosen comrades or underlings to head state corporations and para-government institutions. (3) Publicly rebuking a judge saying “she has her interpretation, I have mine” – when the judge’s constitutional finding went against His Excellency. (4) Latterly, His Excellency’s Coalition contempt for what the Constitution advises about the Prime Minister’s presence in the Assembly and, of course, all the selective recognition of recent judicial decisions.
But even as my 2015 vote, and I feel somewhat compromised by His Excellency’s bullyism behaviour – (his criticisms of Jagdeo’s style now are diluted) – I feel much self-contradiction now as I recall my attitude to the Forbes Burnham reign (1964 to 1985). Why?
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Burnham’s rule (‘64-’85): How and why?
Between 1962 to 1964, I was very much PNC-oriented. I was even a “reluctant rioter” when PNC-friendly protesters burnt down commercial Georgetown in February 1962 “acquiring” dozens of shirts during the riotous fray. (Yet I could still admire the tenacity of the purist politician that was Dr Cheddi.)
By ‘64, I suspected the role of Britain and America in ousting Dr Jagan – Proportional Representation plus funding. But being of Afro-upbringing and affected by simplistic political naiveté, I embraced the still visionary Burnham and his PNC. I also perceived him to be “Black people saviour” – a Kabaka to empower his immediate poor. I witnessed the electoral “rigging away” of the people’s will by LFSB. The other phenomenon assailed my political senses. What?
Well I was privileged then to witness three categories of citizens heartily supporting Burnham’s PNC governments. The first category both impressed and confused me. They were academic, highly-qualified and intellectual professional/experts. A sampling? Shridath Ramphal, Martin Carter, Shahabuddeen, Jackson, Baird, Wills, Kenneth King, Harper, Tyndall, Jack, Hope, Nascimento, et al. Many were non-elected ministers and not long-serving grassroots “party men”. But they were aware that Forbes’ power and government were tainted by fraud at election time. So why did they join and serve such governments? A few of them actually hinted that it was their avenue to serve the people with the skills, the expertise they possessed. What say you to that?
The second group who served Burnham was comprised, of course, of his thousands of die-hard members, supporters, followers. Many party personnel were also qualified and fit and proper for governmental roles.
The third category truly intrigued me. These were the crossover defectors mainly from Dr Jagan’s PPP! However, Forbes did it, he did it. And welcomed them to, sometimes, the highest levels of his PNC. A sampling? Teekah, Chandisingh, the Majeeds, Ambrose, Seeram Prashad et al. Remember these ex-PPP comrades knew of Burnham’s rigging yet willingly joined and spoke no truth to power. Explain human nature. Well, I always claim: people have the right to change their minds, their ideology, their party. Right? What? They have to “live”?
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The Burnhamist Granger, my conscience
I suppose that I, citizen A.A. Fenty, now in my mid-seventies, must plead guilty to recognizing and liking the political brilliance of both Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham. Despite their flaws and frailties they were two giants, here and in the Caribbean.
They were also divisive in this then fledgling nation of many groups. Did they intentionally become so? You judge.
His Excellency the Brigadier is a self-avowed Burnhamist. Indeed over the past two years of his ascension, I’ve easily detected the more negative Burnhamite tendencies and pray that my fears about his transition to full-out autocrat are unfounded. But with his smiles, soft touches and even sympathy of real illness, troubling behaviours portend.
So should I “vote Granger” another time? My good old conscience – the consciousness of moral right and wrong fashioning conclusions – is speaking to me: the best of the bad lot? I can’t vote blindly tribal. I can’t vote Jagdeo/Ali – at all. A third Shuman-like party? Stay home? I’m still in discussion with my conscience.
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Commonwealth Lady, not Ziddy!
Those who have been reading this working-man’s column over the 26 years would know that – around general elections time – I’ve always wondered about our Constitutional provision that allows foreigners from any Commonwealth nation – who lived here for just one year (continuously) before those elections, to vote here. (See Article 159 (b).)
I’m betting that if I lived in some other “Commonwealth” countries, I won’t have that privilege – much less “right”.
A few elections ago my friend Ziddy spent eight months away from Guyana. Somehow his name fell off the Official List of Electors (OLE). Unlike the Zambian doctor here, he couldn’t register in time. The Zambian voted but not poor 54-year-old Guyanese Ziddy! What will house-to-house discover? Discuss…
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Let’s ponder, wonder…
1. Some rabidly anti-PPP folks who later embraced and joined the PPP: Henry Jeffrey, Lumumba, Joe Hamilton, Gillian Burton, Selman. Did they speak truth to power?
2. Twenty years ago, the following WPA brothers would not have been seen anywhere near the PNC. They now serve a PNC/so-called APNU government: Desmond Trotman, Ogunseye, Clive Thomas, Dr Roop. Are they speaking truth to power?
3. I keep wondering: what goes through the minds of the other two (2) who were to vote along with Charrandass? When he voted “yes” first, they decided that 33 would do it. Correctly! Thirty-five would have sealed the deal. No contest!
4. Listen Mr Jagdeo: to stand any chance against all that the Brigadier/His Excellency plans, you have to change to Frank Anthony and the GDF officer (rtd).
5. Dear Pandit Mayor of GT: please find out why the First Federation Life Building on Croal Street and the big old Co-op Bank structure have remained so, for decades. Thank you.
‘Til next week
(allanafenty@yahoo.com)
