The AFC should respect their constitution
Dear Editor, It was in 2009 when I read in the news that Raúl Castro had lambasted two senior officials: Vice President Carlos Lage and Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque who had made jokes about Fidel Castro and questioned his ability to lead the country. He had no choice but to remove them from the political structure of the Cuban Republic. I recall the words he used most vividly: “The honey of power has corrupted him”. In Guyana, it is obvious that the honey of the positions enjoyed by VicePresident and Minister of Public Security, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan and others, has caused them to lose track of the core values of the Alliance For Change (AFC).
My aim here is not to target individuals; I am only concerned with Guyana. According to Article 19 part 1 of the AFC’s constitution, no leader should be allowed to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office, yet now it is apparent that certain leaders of the party are reneging on this arrangement. It is unfortunate that during their time in opposition, the AFC advocated respect for the rule of law and for constitutional reform, but it appears as though their ideals may have changed.
I see so much opportunity for growth in this nation, that can transform it. Our resources such as forestry, bauxite, gold and diamonds, uranium, agriculture, fresh and salt water resources make us an undisputed treasure in the world, but the blight of our nation is politicians; we have major national administrative failures.
From the time of independence to current times, so many political leaders and their apparatchiks have gotten into power with great skill, and then forgot the purpose of their evolution. There has been the continuous development of party paramountcy, and political degeneration where political powerhouses engage in corruption via open and clandestine means.
Now, in relation to the AFC, a party which exerted pressure in order to prevent mismanagement and certain abuses in the economy; protect the interests of the poor and weak; promote industry and commerce; and seek out new investors, has fallen short of its goals. The party needs to be reminded that they came to serve the nation, not their honey needs. I believe it should be documented that I am not antiAFC although when they were formed, I did not attend their meetings or public addresses. I intentionally did this because like Raúl Castro, I realize that even great political personalities lose their vision when they get into power. So, I stayed away even at their inaugural reception in 2005.
I predicted this happening. I saw the sweetness of power corrupting the mentality of the AFC leadership. It is shocking to learn that Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is playing games with the constitution of the party, for continuing access to the honey which he and others now enjoy. I think that the leadership of the AFC has let down their supporters and well-wishers. The AFC was intended to be a unique party that would give support to government or opposition depending on the view of the people, since for many years, the masses had been ignored. I am calling for the AFC to respect their constitution and remain guided by their initial values and political principles. Yours faithfully, Hajji Roshan Khan