Dear Editor,
In my Friday column of twenty-seven years, I’ve been somewhat consistent in announcing my decision and desire to keep my personal and social distance far from PNC leader, Retired Brigadier Granger.
The fact that it took him five selfish, frustrating months to do what’s right won’t change my personal position on that score.
I’ve also recorded that I’m no political admirer of Mohamed Irfaan Ali who has succeeded the Retired Brigadier as our Republic’s President. Why? Nothing too personal, not because he’s not my level of orator, but to me, frankly speaking he is not convincing as a candidate for the role of an independent and inspirational Presidency.
When Mrs Jagan anointed Bharrat Jagdeo I was persuaded to edit and produce an eye-catching, hope-filled newspaper supplement on his first 100 days. Much, much later I also did some writing regarding Ali’s performance and programmes at the Ministry of Housing. Both young men attracted “positive vibes” in those writings. But to me again, Jagdeo blossomed fully into a Presidency that was nearly as autocratic as Granger’s was on the cusp of becoming.
But there is another powerful reason which compels me at this stage, not to give new President Ali the benefit of any or my doubt. Even though I know he should attract my/our best wishes and hopes for success. For if a President succeeds at a national, all-inclusive level, we all succeed. My grave doubt, however, has to do with his Political People’s Party (PPP) of these days.
To transform is “to change in structure, appearance, character or nature.” Can this PPP be ever actually capable of transforming itself? Be transformative, “transformational” in its character and outlook to be reflected in inclusionary policies and programmes in the coming months? I agree that constitutional and electoral reforms must be high on its agenda. COVID-19 and economic/financial downturns are major challenges for all governments – new or “old” – right now. And the opposition forces will be relentless.
But would the PPP’s powerful General Secretary and new Vice-President allow the PPP – the Party which informs the government – to direct the administration to invite the widest cross-section of society’s representatives to advise on what’s best to supplement its campaign 2020 manifesto and government’s “new” programmes? Could this young PPP President be “left alone” to be truly national and inclusive?
I offer just two of my favourite “inclusionary ideas”: Let your Ministry of Agriculture offer African youth (monthly) financial resources and land to join their “Indian” counterparts in large scale-farming; then offer new-type scholarships to marginalized youths to benefit from both vocational and academic education.
Perceived like the PNC, as being a largely “ethnic-based” Party, the PPP seems to have benefited from cross-over AFC and First People votes in March 2020. A good start? But how I fear the envy and ambitions of some older PPP derelicts just waiting to pounce.
Shouldn’t even they realise that if Ali’s PPP governs justly and equitably – using oil, gas agricultural resources as well as the international goodwill now being expressed – that Party could occupy the corridors of national authority for very long? But the question persists: will the hierarchical decision-makers allow the PPP to transform itself as a truly national institution?
Yours faithfully,
Allan Arthur Fenty
