Dear Editor
Black people in Guyana for decades have been taken for granted by their political leaders. They have suffered untold misery as their leaders operated as if it is business as usual. In many instances our leadership have used conveniently the narrative that the PPP must be put in check but this, it seems, had only to do with electoral success. We have become accustomed to being battered and bruised, used and abused that psychologically though we cry out for freedom and justice and the pursuit of happiness and equal treatment, deep down somewhere in the innermost recesses of our being the hopelessness lingers as a reminder that better may never come. It is a terrible reality to fathom.
It seems to me that a reexamination of our age old practices; the way we relate to the dimensions of our continuous struggle and our tolerant attitude to our leadership both in government and opposition must be abruptly halted and the re-engineering of a new approach commence forthwith. We the proletariat must bear some responsibility for allowing the crisis to continue, always to our detriment. However, the time is now to assume a completely new approach because real and lasting change cannot come from doing the same old dance over and over again.
When the approach, a year ago, was taken to empower our supporters with the inner workings of our party, the PNCR, where they would be privy to the nuances at the executive level and have a direct say as to how the party should proceed to be strengthened, many naysayers posited the view that we were washing our dirty linen in public. Yet, change to the party leadership came out of that process. That change came with a direct promise to do things differently with outcomes that could only be beneficial to the struggle. In one year of that new leadership, the cracks had become obvious and it was clear to see that the promise of a different way was nothing but superficial. Yet, it is a lesson that must embolden and empower us to continue swiftly in getting it right. Whenever, it is obvious to us that the change we seek is not in the leadership we placed at the helm, we must act to secure immediate change of leadership.
We must not tire in this struggle towards our quest to reach the absolute that promises our liberation from the clutches of tyranny. Therefore, the PNCR must be prepared, with the urgency required, to confront the rut within its current leadership, with a view of removing and replacing while finding the energy to regroup and continue along the path to secure governance and save Guyana. The PNCR must not pay heed to the uttering of criticism and condemnation that will come from our detractors as we openly show the world we have the decency and will to openly correct wrongs in our public political organisation.
None is above the party and we must show intolerance to bad leadership. We must signal that questionable leadership is unacceptable and malpractices will not be condoned. Where corrupt practices are identified, it must be swiftly investigated and those involved must be made to account for their actions. Leader must know that it is sacrosanct to fulfill their promises made in the quest to hold leadership positions. Leaders must not promise to do A and when they get there they give you Z. That alone is enough to cause a loss of confidence.
In the coming days we hope to see the PNCR acting in a manner that confidence can be restored in the party. It has to act now to make an example of bad and untrustworthy leadership. It must be done in clear view of our supporters that they can be comfortable enough to be ready to offer new and energised support as we continue along the path to eventual national leadership.
Sincerely,
Norman Browne
Social and Political Activist
