Pre-Republic Day Greetings to those “regulars” who have followed this man-in-the street feature over its twenty-one years, as well as to those newer readers of the column.
Ever since I became associated with one of our newer Civil Society NGO’s, the Guyana National Council on Public Policy – the GNCPP – which is gearing up to be a premier local Think-Tank of local and Diasporic patriotic Guyanese personalities of accomplishment in diverse fields; and ever since a current Member of Parliament (MP) and former Minister described, to GNCPP Leader Dr P Mozart Thomas, Guyana’s emerging Civil Society movement as “a bunch of cowards,” I meant to explore the presence, status and role of some of our local Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s) which should collectively comprise that movement.
Two points to note up front here is that since my “new” GNCPP wishes to assist to embolden all of our NGO’s and CSO’s in successful pursuit of their own programmes I won’t even highlight my own personal views and analyses of those I consider to be either under-performing and dysfunctional, or co-opted and compromised as fronts or surrogates for the more political groups and tasks they favour. (Actually not much could be “wrong” with an NGO’s political leaning if that is used to benefit citizens’ welfare, without electioneering for perpetual power?
Secondly, I suspect that the former Minister of Government, who, before gracing the Corridors of Power, himself represented the interest of drivers in the private transportation sector, knew why he recently described our Civil Society activists and players as Cowards – – and just how they became so. Hence today’s exploratory excursion as defined by my lead caption. My take …
Civ.Soc: History, Present, Loyalties
Out of the womb of colonialism came our citizens organisations. I won’t quote histories and authorities I have on the development of our Civil Society, such as it is. (Retired Brigadier Granger – as historian – is competent at that).
Suffice to say that Guyana’s Civil Society persistently strove to develop itself out of private media, trade unions, the Church, the Lodge fraternities, Service organisations with overseas origins, Friendly Societies and professional and cultural associations and so on. Even ethnic-specific groups clamoured to be significant as our Non-government (non-profit) Civil Society Force.
For the most part, Frankly Speaking, Guyana’s Civil Society Groups and Advocates, except some trade unions, dared not risk the consequences of Forbes Burnham’s wrath, if they wished to actively, vocally and visibly oppose any unpopular programme or policy of his. They were merely muted Service Organisations, Social Clubs and Cultural Associations peacefully and meekly existing. (I recall Forbes even Boycotting St George’s Cathedral through dislike for the Head of the Diocese, and dealing “condignly” with certain trade union leaders!)
After Burnham repaired to his Maker, President Desmond Hoyte lifted the PNC’s heavy hand somewhat. He freed up the Press, allowed Consumer Groups their say and their opposition – – and was even novel enough to appoint Civil Society “citizens of quality” to a beleaguered Georgetown City Council. Both those Hoyte-picked citizens and Desmond himself have passed on. I bet to places where there is healthier air to breathe and where places are actually clean.
Then came the 1992 Presidency of the dyed-in-the-wool, hardliner, Communist/Socialist Cheddi Jagan. Before and after those ’92 victorious elections Dr Jagan constructed what he deemed the Civic component to his PPP, Samuel Hinds, Dale Bisnauth, Asgar Ally, Henry Jeffrey, businessmen and professionals all lined up to make a post-PNC difference. And herein lies my observation triggered by the advice of a veteran trade unionist when my GNCPP conversed with representatives of the local labour movement this past Saturday.
Fear, infiltration, neutralization
The Unionist advised the Civil Society advocates that, however well-meaning, when Cheddi Jagan made Sam Hinds his everlasting Prime Minister that was the end of Sam’s Civil or Civic status as one who would rise above political loyalties. Recall that Hinds came out of the period of the PCD and GUARD – semi-political Civil Society Pressure Groups against PNC autocracy.
So today’s emergent Civil Society movement, the constitution and article 13 notwithstanding, must be compromised and virtually neutralized as the Third Social/Ethical Force now in demand by International Brokers and Donors.
But how are well-meaning Civil Society NGO’s compromised? Made tame, ineffective, even disloyal to their own objectives and constituencies? Well there is the political technique of patronage or downright take-over through subtle charm or enticement. Cheddi discovered that Samuel Archibald Hinds, the professional scientist from Linden, was almost an a-political gentleman seeking change from the PNC’s control. So after President Carter’s “democratic intervention” and fair elections, Cheddi deemed Hinds to be “CIVIC”. Result? Sam is now outright political and incidentally, the longest-serving Prime Minister in the hemisphere!
Civil Society NGO’s are also vulnerable when they have no solid structure, little independent funding and few strong, experienced executives without strong political affiliation. There can be nothing wrong with members of a CSO being a supporter of some party but there should not be loyalties so divided as to undermine the NGO’s identity and purpose.
Of course, for the sake of money, funding, favours and existence some NGO’s are willingly political and often willing, surrogate fronts for the political system. Others, not political are often labelled as being so, by both government and opposition zealous of their own authority, “status” and political space and turf.
Civil Society Organisations, deemed to be some threat to some long-established entity, suddenly become either opponent, competitor, or enemy. Their own structure and members get investigated for wrong-doing or “connections”; donors are warned or influenced and if the government feels uncertain, certain ministries, the OP and Dr Luncheon can be harsh! Of course, collective fear also bedevils the effective existence of too many in our still-fledgling Civil Society Movement.
So how can Civil Society be really empowered? The Constitution, The Courts, Clean Independent Funding and unity of diverse groups and purpose. Check me out next time.
My heroes of the Republic
The dictionary definitions of “Hero” apply but I mean individuals whose “lives and sacrifices helped to free us from subservience and who helped mould a viable nation of Guyanese”, with identity.
Years ago, I listened in to Vic Insanally Professor McGowan, Brigadier Granger and a few others attempting to come up with a publication of categories of genuine, worthy Guyanese heroes and/or personalities (of the decade?) Quiet bacchanal! Criteria? Gender? Their background and achievement? Why outstanding or lasting? Bias? Boy oh boy, daunting!
Now let me irritate you with my own partial listing of my Republican heroes: The leaders of the slave uprisings and sugar industry protests, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Cheddi J., Forbes B., Peter D’Aguiar, Ole Kaie, Rohan Kanhai, Clive Lloyd, Desiree Bernard, Baroness Amos, Dave Martins, Malcolm Canary, Eddy Grant, Father Morrison, David deCaires, Philip Moore, the original Ramsaroop and Cleveland Hamilton, RCG Potter and Archibald Luker.
Now suck your teeth and name your own 20.
Mash down?
*1) Do you know any part of our Song of the Republic?
*2) How was the 1763 Berbice Rebellion a failure? A success?
*3) What’s the official designation for February 23?
*4) Suppose the Government’s Chief parliamentary/legal draftsman resigns and begins to draft laws for others, will the respect hold?
*5) Coming next Friday – – “The World Is A Corrupt Place and “The Church as Business”
Til next week!
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