Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 11, 2015 Letters
Dear Editor,
Former President and leader of the opposition Bharat Jagdeo’svisit to Richmond Hill, Queens New York last week was the first since the PPP was defeated in the May elections. Richmond Hill, Queens has long been a stronghold of the PPP, but unlike his previous visits when there were large crowds, many PPP supporters have boycotted this visit because of Jagdeo’s leadership, which lacks credibility. His address to a small group of about 60 diehard supportersof the PPP was followed by a series of questions, most of which were answered indirectly.It was a dull moment.
Being his usual self, Jagdeo dodged questions pertaining to his wealth, corruption and grabbing the country’s best ocean front land for himself, friends and relatives. On the question of unity, Jagdeo stated that he would only support it if the APNU+AFC coalition government rehired the 1900 Amerindians that it fired soon after taking office. Why would the former president sacrifice the country’s unity, which is so important to score cheap political points? When asked why the PPP lost the election, Jagdeo ignored the question and instead turned his venom and puerile remarks to the Burnham era and stated that GECOM stood idly by and allowed the coalition to rig the elections in Buxton, Georgetown and Linden—all PNC strong holds. As if this was not enough, Jagdeo claimed that the ABC countries—America, Britain and Canada conspired to get rid of the PPP.
The good news is that his callousness and racist rants did not galvanize any sympathy or much support from the tiny audience, many of whom have criticized him for his corrupt practices and for giving himself a three million dollar a month pension. Quite frankly, there was an articulate minority in the audience who believed that Jagdeo had perfected the practice of insanity which according to Albert Einstein is the practice of doing or saying the same thing over and over again as if being crazy. Jagdeo’s practice of this kind of madness was on display in Queens, New York as he audaciously lectured his supporters, although many doubted his sincerity to the country. This kind of madness stems from Jagdeo and the PPP’s moronic belief that they were ordained to rule over the people of Guyana and that he, Jagdeo has the solutions to all of Guyana’s problems.
His ranting and raving were so outrageous that it brought a few of the supporters to the brink of disbelief. He played to a vulnerable audience with the hope that they will continue to support the PPP. Such deviant behavior has no place in Guyana’s politics. It is time for Jagdeo to bring this madness to an end. His opposition to almost all of the coalition government’s policies, including Venezuela’s claim to two thirds of Guyana’s territory, shows his lack of patriotism and insensitivity to the people. It has also exposed his poor leadership and brought to light his defeatist attitude. This type of uncivility is immature.
In the midst of his tirade, he mistakenly stated that the PPP is badly divided as a party and is losing its supporters all across the country and if this trend continues, it may be difficult for the party to win the next election. Now, which sensible politician in his/her right mind would publicly say such negative things about his party in public? Only one who plays the race card to his constituents to the point where his brain trips and he says the wrong things.
Not only has Jagdeo divided the country during his twelve years as president, but since grabbing power from former President Ramotar, he has also divided the PPP. It is therefore no surprise that the PPP is on a slippery slope. His dislike for Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjattan and Glenn Lall and Adam Harris from Kaieteur News was evident in his speech. He was told by a member of the audience that he was speaking from both sides of his mouth. To add insult to injury, he has blamed the new government for the spike in crime and murders, the collapse of the sugar and rice industries, increased tension between Guyana and Venezuela, shortages of drugs, for not offering the workers a 20 percent increase and for flat-lining the economy. This was a display of hypocrisy on his part.
Jagdeo should end his partisan politics, stop his manipulation of the people, focus on the issues rather than on personalities and put the country and people first. He does not have the courage to confront the main challenges facing the nation. Bold and positive actions are required of him to be a transformational leader. Cowardly men keep sound bones but they do not even appear in the foot-notes of history.
Asquith Rose
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