Dear Editor,
The most recent public display of Bharrat Jagdeo’s departure from political decency and decorum leaves one to wonder, how much lower can he go?
I watched and listened with great amusement as the leader of the opposition, who at the yearly memorial pilgrimage for the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan at Babu John, Berbice, took the opportunity (in front of the obviously unimpressive crowd) to promote himself— not the legacy of the founding father of the PPP and the true philosophy of Dr. Jagan, nor his handpicked presidential candidate (whom he publicly diminishes every time he is present by hogging all the attention of the press).
In the noticeable absence of the children of Dr. Jagan, as well as key party stalwarts such as Donald Ramotar, Clement Rohee, Ganga Persaud, Dr. Frank Anthony, Anil Nandlall and many others, Mr. Jagdeo took the opportunity to sell himself as the chosen and anointed leader and face of the party Dr. Jagan founded and built.
Editor, despite the aforementioned snippets of this circus of Jagdeo’s performance at Dr. Jagan’s memorial attempt, it would be remiss of me not to state unequivocally, that we in Linden and Region Ten take umbrage at the audacity of Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo to call on us, the people of Linden and Region Ten, to “chase out” our beloved President, David Arthur Granger and ministers of “our” government, when they come to our township and Region. Is he crazy?
This man, who, while President, along with his PPP administration while in government, marginalised, economically stigmatised and disenfranchised our people, and shot and killed innocent protesters. Editor, time and space are not luxuries your pages provide to list the unforgettable scars of our experiences of the Jagdeo/Ramotar reign.
Editor, I strongly believe it would be most prudent to inform Mr. Jagdeo— and he should take this message/advice very seriously— we in Linden and Region Ten will not take dictates from him or anyone for that matter, to bring disrespect to “our” President and government. Additionally, any of your supporters that exist in very relatively small numbers within our community, who attempt to act in accordance with your directive to “chase” our leaders, will have a much stronger and profound counter “chase” from our supporters (in observance of the law of course). After all, we are a peaceful people, and we don’t look for trouble, just ask around.
In conclusion, it is important to note that, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”, (George Santayana philosopher).
We will never forget where we came from and the hardships of those 23 years of dictatorship /authoritarian rule, rampant drug smuggling, gold smuggling, absolute corruption, suppression of press freedom, etc.
I maintain: Guyana under the David Granger-led Coalition Government is better equipped to continue serving this nation for the benefit of all Guyanese.
Forward ever, backward never
Yours faithfully,
Jermaine Figueira
APNU+AFC MP
Region Ten
