Gill’s examples do not support his advocacy for change

Aug 31, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
Political neophytes and quacks must not be allowed to ignore the democratic processes of the PNCR. They must learn the rules of the game and abide by same.
Having read Harry Gill’s letter captioned, “Corbin supporters seem obsessed with the need to respect Party rules” (KN 8/30/10), it is apparent that the alternative state of lawlessness and reckless senselessness that the PPP/C has introduced to our society through propaganda has gained fertile ground at various levels of our society, even among those who would ordinarily be expected to think before they speak.
Mr. Gill from all his lengthy paragraphs advocates a non-adherence to democratic practices to bring about change.
He argues to suit what he perceives and uses examples of change that took place in a measured and structured environment of laws such as in parliament.
He is reminded that in parliament issues and bills are debated after following a structured procedure before it even enters for debate.
The will of the majority in parliament is determined through votes and is the highest forum of democracy that he demonstrates a disregard for. Gill’s examples do not support his advocacy for change.
The medical reference is useless since it is important for any serious medical diagnosis and management of same to be done by a qualified and certified licensed medical practitioner or specialist…..not a quack.
Gill and thinkers like him who advocate the change of rules must first understand the environment of organisations and laws. Political organisations are no different.
Doing otherwise suggests that they are quacks, political neophytes who must not be allowed to ignore and disrupt the democratic processes of the PNCR. They must learn the rules of the game and abide by same.
Gill quotes me saying, “If those who are seeking to usurp the power of the elected leader of the PNCR believe that they can violate the rule of law in the PNCR and be respected as a national force that will bring Guyana out of this era of lawlessness and criminality then they will have to answer to the electorate whether they are capable of complying with the laws of Guyana.”
The essence of these statements must not be wasted due to senseless logic. Those who seek change in the PNCR must follow the rules and democratic practices in the party.
The rules do not state that any elected leader should step aside because he has dissenters. Were his dissenters in the majority their choice would have been elected leader of the party.
The rules speak to a state of democracy that allows for party members to determine their leader. That decision was made at party Congress in 2009. Additionally the rules particularly dictate how one can become leader outside of the framework of elections.
Yet we see challengers and their supporters demonstrating that they are prepared to ignore the will of the people, prepared to ignore democratic practices, ignore the fact that Murray has accepted defeat and resort to alternative means through which they can overturn the will of the people.
This political “bad man” style of a select few must stop, for even though they use these rough tactics against their own they ignore the dastardly deeds of the PPP/C , the AFC and those who attack the party daily and those whose desire it is to create chaos in the party to undermine its chances in 2011.
Gill and the anti Corbin leadership faction of the PNCR must know that if the opposition is blowing its chances for 2011 then they are contributing to this projected failure.
Will they move on and come to realise that none of them has any claim on the PNCR more than any other of its members?
The party leadership is not bequeathed by birthright, family ties or by any ethnic appeal. Each leader must earn his and her right to lead as determined by the internal democratic practices of the party.
Those who continue to advocate lawlessness in the party will be no better than the lawless government we are seeking to change.
Guyana deserves better and a democratic PNCR is the alternative that we who support the leader are prepared to fight to advance and preserve.
B. Beniprashad Rayman