Opposition’s remarks at Port Mourant were not normal bantering
Dear Editor, The nation should pay key attention to the political rhetoric that came from the opposition PPP platform in Port Mourant, Berbice, at the memorial ceremony for its late founder leader and former President, Cheddi Jagan. In political terms, given the present situation in the country, the utterances of Bharrat Jagdeo and the other top leaders at the PPP’s most significant memorial event cannot be treated as the normal bantering of the opposition.
President David Granger in addressing the GDF’s Annual Officers Conference used the occasion to demonstrate political vigilance when he expressed his and the coalition government’s concerns over the opposition leader’s address in Berbice. The Head of State and Commander in Chief in his address to the assembled security officers said, “Reckless remarks about an uprising and provocative calls for the mobilization of foot soldiers have the potential to rip apart the fragile fabric of social cohesion that we enjoy”.
To understand the evolving dynamics in Guyana we must examine what is the present political situation in the country and see how it is influencing the political actions of the opposition. The APNU+AFC coalition government came to office in 2015 with a mandate to restore Guyana to political, economic and social normalcy after 23 years of PPP misrule. A major aspect of that mandate is the dismantling of the criminal state and the economic and social infrastructure which is inherent in its evolution. This is no easy task given the political/racial implications and the unavoidable economic and social disruption that will arise in the process.
Since coming to power the incumbent administration has implemented numerous policy measures, audits and institutional renovations that are intended to achieve its mandate. As a result of these measures it was able to garner unquestionable evidence of the high levels of corruption that took place under the former regime, which amounted to billions of dollars annually.
The unravelling of the criminal network that operates in the state and the private sector, be it the smuggling of gold, fuel, diamonds, currency, procurements, overrun on government contracts, land frauds, non-payment of royalties and tax evasion, is proving to be difficult and challenging. In spite of the difficulties the work has continued unabated, since stopping the financial and economic haemorrhaging of the country‘s resources is a national priority. While many of the measures taken by the government to address the situation are not well known among the masses, the same is not true of the efforts of the opposition and others. These forces are employing every trick in the book to undermine government’s efforts. The government therefore has to be more robust and creative in its PR campaign if it intends to keep citizens apprised and supportive of the work it is doing.
The opposition is now the principal political actor against the regime’s actions. These efforts are manifested in the party’s positions on the following issues: (1) their position on government’s efforts to restructure Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo); (2) their hostility to SOCU and SARU; (3) their opposition to the widening of the tax base; (4) efforts to arrest tax evasion; and (5) measures to deal with currency smuggling.
An examination of the PPP’s rhetoric at its Berbice rally tells it all: (a) Sugar workers must rise up against the closure of estates; (b) APNU+AFC government is intimidating businesspersons; (c) allegations against SARU; (d) the coalition government is driving fear in various sections of the population; (e) people must be prepared to come onto the streets; (f) the government wants to unilaterally appoint the Gecom Chairman; (g) PPP is the only party that stands between this government and dictatorship.
While most of the above propaganda is not new, the choice of place, timing and the tone of the rhetoric is not accidental. For Mr Jagdeo and the PPP it amounts to signalling the road they intend to follow. The threats implicit in the remarks were not missed by President Granger. Yours faithfully, Tacuma Ogunseye