ANUG and the others would be most fortunate to get a total of two seats
Dear Editor,
I refer to the letter titled, `ANUG can win without securing majority or plurality of the votes at the elections’ (SN February 24). Because of the regard I have for Mr. Ramkarran, I owe him the courtesy of a reply.
To the former Speaker of the House, I say thanks for the positives. I agree with him that his party does not have to secure a “majority or plurality of votes” to be a presence and force with which to reckon, one to respect, even one to fear, perhaps. I am sure that Mr. Ramkarran may have come across in my writings, from time to time, that the new parties could make a difference, that they could function as icebreaker, troublemaker, and spoiler, through not contributing to what has been our age-old practices. And that is just by being in the National Assembly of the peoples, with a view to curtailing the mockeries made of the business and interests and welfare of citizens.
In addition, I have employed another phrase: change agent, which I believe is what Mr. Ramkarran and his group have in mind, and as he shared in his letter through the mechanism of genuine constitutional reform of substance, and the processes and modus vivendi that could follow from such a development. As should be well known by now, the existing constitution does not exist as far as I am concerned, given its origins and the sordid history, which has accompanied it; I dismiss it for the shabby treatments that it has empowered the calculating political aristocracy to mete out to Guyanese. Therefore, constitutional reform is high up on my agenda, and I am gratified to hear (again) that this is a very high priority for Mr. Ramkarran and his party. From what I gather, one of their main objectives is to “end the politics of ethno-political dominance in Guyana.” That could not have been said better and resonates highly with me; I have said repeatedly that this racial problem (“the politics of ethno-political dominance”) is our biggest problem, and a tragedy suspended, ever so often, from climaxing. I am delighted to hear that this vision and keenness exists elsewhere.
Now I must get down to the nitty-gritty of what it takes - the numbers - to get there. Mr. Ramkarran says it is three to five seats. I was thinking that his party (and the others) would be most fortunate to get a total of two. This is because, from my perspective only, I foresee the obtaining of some 18,000 to 30,000 votes is near insurmountable in the voting culture and outlook and conduct of this society. To confirm what I have said all along, the upcoming elections are going to be, almost without fail, straight down the racial middle. I do not need any poll to tell me so, I simply observe and listen to my fellow Guyanese, and make a call on how I see this unfolding on March 2nd. I wish it were otherwise.
It was why I wrote that my vote would be “wasted.” I think that ANUG is the one new party that has a semblance of a chance in the final count; I think also that it has one other in its leadership realm, also from the legal profession, to whom I doff my straw hat. I am not so thrilled with the others, and I am of the position that ANUG diluted its brand somewhat with the joint venture in which it is now a partner. My sense of the situation is that the nucleus of necessary votes (and this is for two seats) is just not there. Perhaps, I will be shocked come Monday.
Separately, I will extend to Mr. Ramkarran the benefit due, as to that commitment not to join “either of the major parties in a coalition.” I think he is a principled man, whose word means much to him, and he means it in this matter; on the other hand, I am uncertain that some of his new comrades will hold firm on that political oath, should push come to shove. I tender this based on what had occurred prior to the finalizing of his group as it now stands.
Nevertheless, I wish him and his group the very best next week, and that they will be given the votes to make a reality of what they would like to introduce in parliament and, by extension, to the Guyanese people. They could be the spearhead of the change agents and difference makers, which I keep insisting are so vitally needed around here. Tuesday and afterwards will confirm whether there was a sufficiently muscular group of centrist voters; or that it is the same old racial story, as I remind one and all.
Yours faithfully, GHK Lall