Provocateurs! Exposing racism, promoting racism
Even I, an untrained political analyst or hardly a trained qualified historian, would know that a very limited Op-Ed piece such as this would do no justice to even attempt a history, development and status of Guyana’s two political behemoths – the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress (PNC).
However, because I’m moved, as a patriotic but concerned citizen, to share observations regarding what these two local political institutions have become today, I pen summaries in the following paragraphs to, perhaps, influence more indepth conclusions by others.
The highly-political young Indo-Dentist Cheddi Jagan returned to BG/Guyana in 1943 with his equally politically-oriented Caucasian American wife Janet.
(This duo alone caused wonderment amongst doting Berbician relatives and adherents – handsome young medical professional with “Blue- Eyes Boujie” wife!).
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The original PPP then – and today
The dentist-politician Cheddi Jagan entered the Legislative Council in 1947. An independent, he was the green, raw but true anti-colonial Parliamentary Pioneer.
He engineered the founding of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), after the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) fore-runner, in 1950. Names then were Cheddi, Janet, Joslyn Hubbard, Ashton Chase, Sidney King (now E Kwayana, J. P. Lachmansingh, Jainarine Singh and the British- trained newcomer attorney L.F.S Burnham who Ashton Chase allowed to become chairman of that original PPP.
The working-class embraced the charismatic leaders of the PPP. (Scant attention or support was granted to the few “older” parties – like the National Democratic Party (NDP), United Farmers and Workers Party, Guyana National Party). That “first” national PPP won 18 of the 24 seats to form the short-lived PPP government. The British removed the national government after a few weeks. The rest became history as Burnham’s “PPP- Burnhamite” became the People’s National Congress (PNC) in 1957.
Burnham’s leadership-ambition knew no bounds. Cheddi’s 1957 and 1961 governments attracted the American’s anti-communist attention so much so that when Burnham inveigled D’Aguiar’s U.F. into a “coalition, Cheddi was “overthrown” Under the British-imposed electoral Proportional Representation System in 1964. Enter 21 years of LFS Burnham.
Against all of the above I make three fundamental points: Briefly, there arose a popular mass movement named “PPP”; ideology, however ill-chosen, informed party and government; powerlust later fuelled lasting political, ethnic divisions. Guyana’s doom began, even as the two big parties boasted strong (nationalistic) leaders.
Burnham’s visionary (regional) leadership soon became heavily-tainted. Because frankly speaking, even though he adopted Jagan’s socialism to the point of even facilitating PPP defections to his PNC, continuous election rigging and creeping autocracy crippled the economy and the country’s image until the Americans stepped in vigorously in late 1992.
It’s not that difficult to ignore the 2015-2020 (?) five year intervention in government by the Burnham Product David Granger. The Brigadier’s blatant attempts to revive his Burnhamism could not survive today’s socio-political world.
My contention is with this “new PPP” could Comrades Ramotar, Teixeira, Chandarpal, Benn, and Rohee really influence the Power-Leader Bharrat? So many of the newcomer PPP young office-holders owe thanks and allegiance to the Bharrat! Could he himself see the everlasting benefits of governing and managing our bounty and resources equitably? When the PPP really satisfies all – or the majority – they can be there to stay. But, frankly speaking, does even a “new PPP” have it in its DNA?
On the other side my heart sinks for the “New PNC”. Led now by an aggressive front-man in Parliament, the former Green House spokesman “Intelligence” Officer, there is now a new characteristic belligerence. Most likely born of the loss of power, perks and partisan opportunities. I won’t name names here but there are about six leading male spokespersons all given to political belligerence and other synonyms like combative and contentious.
Where are the steadying heads and hands for this “new PNC”? The green-shirted military background-leader? The comradely lady Chairperson? Working-class “outreaches” or/and attacks non-stop on PPP actions? Poor PNC.
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Alternatives…
As this is my own Op-Ed opportunity, tell me not of any opportunistic, consumed, “dead-meat” AFC.
The LJP (Shuman), the ANUG (Ramkarran) and another have “combined” efforts. Do you remember even the names of four other groups which contested the 2020 elections? Where are they right now? So they were just Facebook elections aspirants? Poor Us.
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Racism: Exposing- then exploiting
Just the briefest of advisories here: Observe how certain groups – mostly opposition-oriented – are identifying real or alleged instances of racist or racially-tinged actions by the still new government. Especially the removal, termination of senior employees of one ethnicity: objectively researched and reported, this exercise by the Opposition is justifiable. Even useful. But check how many then turn around to exploit the real and perceived acts.
They then become provocateurs of the racial problematic themselves. Pretending to be preaching only anti- PPP rhetoric. Dangerous too. More next time.
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Ponder these three…
1) Will the government abandon Georgetown’s D’Urban Park (After millions were spent? Or mis-spent?)
2) Have you noticed? The UN has offered urgent assistance with electoral reform!
3) I can’t wait to see how sugar will really return. Will oil revenues be used?
’Til next week!
