Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 08, 2016 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
I have said to several persons in the AFC that if the party ever goes into a retreat to analyze politics since May 2015, it would be meaningless unless they invite outside minds who are not within the AFC substance and who would be mentally free to give realistic assessments of the AFC’s performance.
It would be a futile exercise without these people, because an AFC Minister may not want to tell the Prime Minister that under his portfolio the Chronicle has remained similar to what it was under the PPP. An AFC Minister may not want to ask for the reassignment of the Minister of Agriculture.
If the two coalition parties are going to have internal reflections, then they need to listen to outside people. They bring a freshness of an unburdened mind that the burdened mind needs to have. But power always gets in the way. People with power do not listen.
I remember I was a guest on the early morning TV programme, “First Look” on Channel 9, when I was asked about Joe Harmon’s outburst about not apologizing for the ministerial salary increase. I did mention that Mr. Harmon was one of my favourite PNC leaders who may have got it wrong, but meant well.
One day after the salary increase fiasco, I called Mr. Harmon at his home and on his cell numbers to advise him that an apology was the only avenue available, and that I would gladly help to draft the kind of apology that would go a far way in redeeming the situation. He didn’t return my call.
I called Mark Archer, whom I am very fond of, and asked that he convey to Joe my strategy. I got no response. Exactly six weeks after he blurted out that he had no apology to make for the salary increase, Joe expressed contrition. What was unbelievable was that he waited and endured six weeks of devastating castigations of his politics and character before he said sorry. I am absolutely convinced that if he had done so in a very expressive way just one day after, Joe Harmon would not have gone into the bad books of many people
The sad, yet troubling thing about the AFC and PNC (I really don’t like using that acronym, APNU; I really don’t and I mean no insult to the WPA, a party I truly admire) leaders is that they do not consult “distant” people who can bring a perspective on things that they cannot see.
Outstanding in this regard was former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Blair had his “outside” coterie that he sought ideas from. Those who were close to Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan would tell you that they were very self-opinionated (due to their phenomenal achievements and towering presence) but they had persons outside of their party and governmental circles that they contacted in crisis-situations
The AFC and PNC hierarchy will continue to stumble, because they haven’t learnt anything from twenty-three years of PPP’s mountainous mistakes. The PPP went into self-destruction mode because power drove it there. Few people in this country would be dishonest to say that they didn’t offer support to the PPP after it came to power. The human mind always welcomes change, and it was twenty-eight years of PNC rule.
Nationally revered icon, Eusi Kwayana, issued a statement asking the Guyanese people to give the new president, Bharrat Jagdeo, a chance. Power destroyed the PPP and Jagdeo. It is debatable if the PPP will ever get back to office in the foreseeable future. Is the same happening to Joe Harmon?
No matter how much you are in love with the PNC as an historical institution, and no matter how you admire President Granger as a democratic, clean President, damage is occurring in the House of the Grand Coalition, and it is lacerating the hopes of a nation. The two Harmon scandals – Tiwarie-gate and BaiShanLin-gate have come too early in the rule of the Grand Coalition.
Why would Mr. Harmon want to do what he did so early in the reign of his party? What could Keith Scott have done so early in the reign of the Government to cause his transfer from the Ministry of Housing? Why did the Grand Coalition so soon after it got into power hand itself an oceanic salary increase and do this secretly? Why do Ministers run as if they are on the athletic track from the press so soon after coming into power making people feel they are like the PPP leaders?
Obviously you know the answer –power destroys the mind, thus the capacity to reason.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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