Managing Guyana’s two “Forces” Little St. Vincent, no derelicts
Come reflect quickly with me on a few very basic principles and realities regarding democratic representation. In Guyana’s context.
Democracy came up with the mechanism of elections to determine who governs. As well as who represents whom; even who manages our resources and aspects of our very lives. Various societies have all types of defined electoral systems. How many of Guyana’s under-thirties realise that our own current elections system “was birthed out of the months-long racial animosities and killings of the 1962 to 1964 period?
As the “vote-for-yuh-own” movement took hold, fuelled by racial preferences, Forbes Burnham easily appreciated that Jagan’s arithmetical, electoral majority would always triumph. So amidst the vicious, sustained tit-for-tat weekly killings Burnham impressed upon the British to change from first-past-the-post to proportional representation as a more “appropriate” election system for a lop-sided, multi-racial Guyana. The Americans, highly suspicious of a communist/socialist Cheddi and his PPP, were glad to assist – in some nefarious way.
But even those 1964 elections did not afford Burnham any clear-cut victory over Cheddi. It was Burnham’s masterful “coalition” with D’Aguiar’s United Force which did the trick ultimately. Today we vote basically “proportional representation” with some additional “regional” modifications.
********
The people, the representatives’ agenda
These few terse remarks are my own considered view – having participated as voter and/or party campaign worker in eleven (11) national elections, some rigged, some free and fair – that most elected representatives usually decide to serve themselves more, rather than the country’s electors and the rest of society under eighteen years of age.
Why my conclusion? Because even as Burnham captured power for his PNC for 28 years and even as he began as transformational – even visionary, his underlings, succumbing to his eventual autocracy, merely served themselves as his era ushered in the politics of discrimination and corruption. Desmond Hoyte did not survive long enough after the American Carter’s intervention to recalibrate his PNC. My generation then experienced (1997 to 2015 to 2020) the selfish excesses of the Jaganite/Burnhamite modern-day heirs.
Who can be confident of the young, self–serving, “ambitious” reps of the PNC these days? And can we put faith in this incarnation of the PPP now stung by Granger’s power-grab and fascinated by the lure of oil, gas and gold? However hopeful, frankly speaking I won’t hold my breath. What say you?
******
Our “forces” of police, of army
Trinidad and Tobago prefers Police “Service” to Police “Force”. But negative behaviours inspire the query: what’s in a name?
Well frankly speaking friends, I just had to be motivated to add a few comments after reading police chaplain Doolichand’s remarkable prayer regarding the Force and the equally remarkable Sunday Stabroek editorial of this Sunday past.
Our Guyana Police Force is one of the oldest institutions in this land. Conceptualised by the British colonisers as Emancipation of the slaves beckoned, a structured police organisation was established by 1839, first contemplated since 1836. So the force was born out of the freedom of persons. And those persons and the newcomer-labourers had to obey new law–and–order behaviours. Any institution 182 years old should attract much respect. But…
Also, after the “British colonial Commissioners” the “Independence” Police Heads, poor fellas, started to become subject to, Mr Burnham’s political bidding. To this day, no matter how subtle or indirect, the police force “feels” the hands of politicians. Additionally, the quality of recruits, later members, leaves a lot to be desired. Top Cop Lloyd Barker always reminded us: “We get the recruits that the society supplies us with”.
Training-school certainly cannot transform working-class from ordinary challenged communities into angels with the lofty traits and moralities required of good honest professional cops. And as I mentioned a few columns ago, the younger traffic rank and detective experience corruption and thievery within their own organisation. Preacher Doolichand was practically, brutally on point! I suspect the PPP has “plans” for a new hierarchy.
Have you–all noticed? The army (GDF) in comparison to the more ubiquitous police – does not attract negative public spotlights too often? (Some privates might commit petty crimes and flour and milk do disappear from the stores sometimes, but not too many public disclosers occur.)
Frankly speaking, to me that’s because the army has maintained/sustained the higher standard of discipline – after more rigorous training – left by British tradition. From (British) Volunteer Force – overseas service experienced – to SSU to GDF, the army’s management keeps studying and qualifying to properly and professionally manage an institution tasked with national security and defence.
Don’t think I’ve forgotten that some of our “best”, most dangerous criminals once served in the army to learn certain skills. But thankfully that is never any “norm”.
Just recently the president had occasion to address both the police and army seniors. His aspirational remarks were instructive. As were the army’s brigadier’s on GDF “operations”, internal security and “Joint Services” assistance. The army seems to be in “good hands”.
Now for two strange unrelated points: to me it was unprecedented for the army to assure the top foreign diplomats, just before the August 2nd 2020 declaration of results, that it would recognize the will of the people. And don’t expect Indo- Guyanese to flood the Joint Forces; expect in their Asian homelands, they do not prefer uniforms in favour of business and quick money.
********
Hail little St Vincent!
Years ago a – few – Guyenterprise included me on a five-hour visit to St Vincent – a little CARICOM island. Imagine taking influential Eccles residents to inspect a full-fledged scientific landfill facility to persuade them that our planned Haags Bosch version would be safe for their worthy community. Just imagine that!
I congratulated the Bus-Driver–guide on the orderly cleanliness of his capital Kingstown. No garbage; flowing drains; no derelict abandoned vehicles on parapets; vendors organised, attractive. He said that the tourist island had to be kept scrupulously clean for its visitors. I had to quip: What? So you don’t keep it clean for yourselves?” He laughed as I felt ashamed for my once Garden City now disorderly smelly Georgetown. Poor us.
`Til next week
