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Apr 14, 2011 Letters
Dear Editor,
All who have been following my contributions to the political discourse over the last year know that I have been consistently calling for a broad-based national coalition to contest the upcoming elections, since it remains my view that this is the only chance there is to take the presidency from the PPP.
It has been necessary for me to preface the following remarks with the above statement since I do not want to be accused of undermining “our country’s future”.
A few observations are apt in light of a recent, public exchange between Mr. Everall Franklin of the GAP and Mr. Peter Ramsaroop. This exchange I believe has its genesis in Mr. Ramsaroop declaring a few days ago that the “PNC has never won an election”, a comment which has attracted a fair amount of criticism from members of the community, including at least one senior member of the PNCR.
The general gist of these criticisms is that Peter’s statement is inaccurate and that there is no proof that the PNC was ever involved in any electoral malpractices/rigging of elections; ever! What I find highly disturbing (since the mindset from which it comes threatens the viability of the nascent JOPP) is Leadership plays an important role in defining the character, viability and cohesion of every nation state in this affair.
He says in his response to all concerned that, “It is necessary to end this deceit and I, on behalf of the Guyana Action Party, wish to convey in the strongest possible terms, our disgust at the level of treacherousness displayed. We will not continue with any charade or foolishness. Our country’s future is at stake.”
Mr. Franklin has unambiguously stated that he speaks on behalf of the Guyana Action Party which group I believe comprises its de facto leaders and of course its supporters.
I say de facto leaders because as far as I know, the GAP has never had a formally convened congress or meeting at which a de jure leadership has been elected within the framework of an organisational constitution or any similar document giving its de facto, self-selected leaders the mandate to speak on behalf of the people who have been voting for them in the last few national elections.
In other words, the present leadership of the GAP has been going around the country speaking on behalf of a “constituency” even though they have no formal or legal mandate to do so! I stand corrected but I don’t hear anyone coming forward to debunk my statement! I will reserve comments about the rigging of elections by the PNC and the PPP for now.
Suffice it to say that if necessary I shall speak of my first hand experience of being witness to actions in the past which lend credibility to the essence of Mr. Ramsaroop’s claim that ignited this brouhaha in the first place!
Regarding Mr. Franklin’s pretentious outburst of false indignation at Mr. Ramsaroop’s remarks, I will only say that it is laughable, though quite serious. Unless Mr. Franklin can present the evidence that he does indeed have a/the constitutional mandate to speak on behalf of the people who vote for the GAP he should desist from calling on the Peter Ramsaroops of the world to refrain from treachery! He should refrain from pontificating about “ending …deceit”! He should look at himself in the mirror and first counsel himself “not to continue with… [the]…charade…”
What is more treacherous and deceitful than living the lie of having the formalised mandate (which one must have in a democracy!) to represent a political constituency when in natural fact you have none? What is it if not a charade when you persist in this deceit to the point that you and the other self-selected upper hierarchy of the GAP actually now believe the essence of this deceit when really, it is based on a figment of your imagination? Isn’t that a charade, the same charade which you are now blaming Peter Ramsaroop of living?
There is more to be said about this matter but I will wait for another time to do so. In the meanwhile I will leave Mr. Franklin with some words of wisdom that my Arawak grandmother consistently drummed into my head as a child.
She always told me, “One lie leads to another, and another and another, until one is no longer able to discern between truth and fiction.” She also said, “However, anything begins, good or bad, right or wrong, so shall it end.” If you are truly concerned about “our country’s future” I advise you and the other self-selected upper hierarchy of the GAP to formalize your mandate to speak on behalf of any political constituency in the country.
It is critical in a democracy that we do so as a prerequisite to legitimizing our right to represent the people! The PNC has shown the way, the PPP will never be democratic since its DNA is not structured to accommodate this ideology, but it has managed over the years to consolidate its hold on its constituency! I believe that political parties, including the GAP and the GPP must first get their own house in order before they attempt to dictate to others how they should conduct their business. Only then will they have the moral authority to embark on a crusade to right the wrongs in the national community.
Hubert Wong
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