President Irfaan Ali has fired back at former Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr Bertrand Ramcharan on the criticism that the PPP/C operates in a seemingly autocratic way, contending that most academics target his administration although it is the most inclusive.
“This has been the most inclusive government, the most community-based government. For us, people are the centre of everything we do. We consult with the people and the government was elected by the people based on a manifesto,” Ali said on Wednesday as he emphatically defended his party’s governance style in response to a question from Stabroek News on Ramcharan’s assertion.
“The government has that responsibility to implement that manifesto and that is all the government is doing; implementing that manifesto, but apparently democracy excludes the government from defending itself. These great intellectuals… these great upholders of the shroud to democracy, only they have the god given right to be critical and defend themselves,” he added.
On Tuesday, Ramcharan in a column in Stabroek News, underlined what he saw as autocratic tendencies in the current government and the predilection of the opposition PNCR towards the rigging of elections.
Both of these tendencies, he posited, have placed the country at a precipice with elections approaching next year.
Framing his argument in the backdrop of a recent book by Anne Applebaum entitled Autocracy Inc., Ramcharan cited the author’s declaration that “There is no liberal world order anymore, and the aspiration to create one no longer seems real. But there are liberal societies, open and free countries that offer a better chance for people to live useful lives than closed dictatorships do. They are hardly perfect. Those that exist have deep flaws, profound divisions, and terrible historical scars. But that’s all the more reason to defend and protect them.”
The situation in Venezuela, he said, is one that Guyanese would do well to take note of. He said that Applebaum stated about the Maduro model of governance that autocrats who adopt it are “willing to see their country enter the category of failed states” and accepting economic collapse, endemic violence, mass poverty and international isolation if that’s what it takes to stay in power. Applebaum further wrote: “Iran, plus Russia, China, and Turkey have kept the profoundly unpopular Venezuelan regime afloat and even allowed it to support autocrats elsewhere.
“Why mention Maduro’s Venezuela here? Because, in the context of the on-going electoral imbroglio, with the Presidents of Brazil and the USA calling for new elections in Venezuela, it should come as no surprise to anyone if the `Maduro model’ were to resort to active aggression against Guyana’s Essequibo – with support from Autocracy Inc.”, Ramcharan wrote.
Returning to the question posed in the title of essay: `Whither Guyana: Auto-cracy or Democracy?’, Ramcharan, a former Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that some historical context was necessary.
As elections approach in 2025, leading PNCR advocates – and others of goodwill – are calling for a changed system of governance and for inclusive governance, or for power-sharing. Those now in government have, so far, side-stepped such calls and, although a Parliamentary commission has been established to look at constitutional changes, it remains to be seen whether any such change will come about in the year or so before elections are due, he said.
Future path
It is in this context, Ramcharan added, that the question arises for reflection as to Guyana’s future path from the perspectives of autocracy or democracy.
“Two historical facts stand out: first, the PNCR has a record of subverting elections; and, second, the PPP has a record of autocratic tendencies”, he said.
While Ramcharan did not mention it, the Guyana Government is working on legislation aimed at registering non-governmental organisations (NGO).
President Ali said that all governments globally also have the right to defend their administration but when his does, threre is a problem.
“Any government in the world has that right to outline its policy and defend its interest. It is no different in the PPP/C. But every time the government outlines clearly a strategy and defends its position [they are condemned],” he said.
“And let us examine also the repsonisb8ility of the NGO. We encourage the growth and development of NGOs but look at the NGOs and examine honestly. Take for example the APA (Amerindian Peoples Association). The APA has been political in everything. How can the APA consider itself to be an NGO when in every key national issue they were quiet? When it was the rigging of the elections they were quiet, when it was the no confidence motion they were quiet, when it was the LCDS they were quiet. If you look at the facts, there is a clear trail of evidence that supports the view that the APA is politically biased and is of course an offshoot and demonstrates a political bias to the APNU+AFC,” Ali asserted. The APA has vigorously rejected Ali’s claims on several occasions.
Ali said when criticisms are rained on him and his government he does not “have a problem with that because that is their democratic right” but bias has to also be highlighted
“We don’t have a problem with the APA demonstrating this bias but the population must know that. The population must know from what perspective they are speaking and the government has a responsibility to outline that,” he stressed.
Ramcharan had also stated: “In Guyana, we have recently seen official inquisitions into the tax status of NGOs, calls for new laws to ‘regulate’ NGOs, and public campaigns of vilification against particular NGOs and their leaders. There are shades of autocracy here, without a doubt. And Guyana has also seen ‘highest level’ admonitions of judges carrying out their duties in good faith.
“There are also other shades of autocracy: Parliamentary scrutiny of governmental activity is minimal, if existent. Governmental consultation with the opposition is hardly existent. Oil money has made the Government lush with funds for information campaigns. And an Oracle in the ruling party pronounces on all matters, big and small. The spirit of governance smells of autocracy.
“Guyana’s historical record is thus a blemished one when it comes to assessing it from the perspectives of autocracy and democracy: one party has subverted elections, while the other party practices `All is mine.’”
