Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 25, 2011 Letters
Dear Editor,
Many political commentators opined that David Granger the PNCR’s presidential candidate was a political neophyte when he called Mr. Donald Ramotar, congratulated him on his selection as the PPP’s candidate and asked for a clean campaign based on the issues.
But I believe that Granger knew all along that it would only be a matter of time before Ramotar and the PPP race baiting machinery resorted to gutter politics. My grandmother used to say, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, and so goes the PPP.
That Donald Ramotar would choose to accuse the PNCR of atrocities and associations with criminal elements, when he presided as General Secretary of the party in government with the worst record of public safety in the history of the Republic, is tantamount to “eye pass”. Mr. Ramotar’s party Home Affairs Minister is currently embroiled in alleged high crimes and misdemeanors, the previous holder of the same office was accused of heinous criminal acts including murder, his party’s presidential spokes person Kwame McCoy operates like a thug with political cover, yet this man has the temerity to accuse others of criminal associations. In sworn testimony before a Unites States federal judge convicted felon Roger Khan testified that he was working for the PPP. This man was a murderer, drug dealer and public nuisance who operated with the cover of the PPP government, Ramotar’s PPP.
Mr. Editor I am disappointed, but not entirely surprised that Ramotar would stoop to such a level. It is interesting to note that he cannot find time to debate the political opposition on the issues facing this nation, but he makes time to engage in mud slinging and name calling in the Chronicle. The people of Guyana must recognise the pattern here; Jagdeo goes to Babu John and incites a largely Indian crowd; then at the PPP district conferences Jagdeo continues to spread his racial poison; Now Ramotar seeks to paint the PNCR as a criminal organisation. This is the PPP’s election platform, it is simple, very uncomplicated and very bad for Guyana; rile up the Indo-Guyanese base, make them scared of the Blackman, keep them on the reservation with a frequent diet of anti-PNCR propaganda and lies, and ask them to vote their fear, rather than their hopes and aspirations.
The problem Mr. Editor is that after almost 20 years of neglecting the base of the party, and 56 years of keeping the majority of that base rural and poor, the PPP feels that the Indians in Guyana will fall for the same “swar” again. While David Granger wants to discuss the issues and keep the campaign clean, the PPP has no use for that type of forward leaning approach, because for them that is a losing strategy.
Mr. Ramotar is not prepared to answer questions on the decline in sugar production in Guyana at a time when World demand and prices are high; he has no answers for the rise in narco-crime and gun violence; the University of Guyana may be forced to shut its doors next year, but this is not an issue that warrants the attention of the PPP. The failing and dilapidated schools without toilets and running water, the constant blackouts and poor sanitation services, the Value Added Tax (VAT) that is killing the small man, Government waste, the Freedom of Information Act, freedom of the press are all issues that are worthy of debate in this election season, and if the PPP is proud of its record it should be demanding debates anytime, anywhere, but sadly all that is left in their bag of tricks is appealing to race baiting and national disunity.
Mr. Editor this will be a change election and we must all do our part to educate the populace on the issues. The incumbent party has shown an unwillingness to engage on the issues, so it will be up to the independent dailies to keep these issue front and centre. The PPP has been in office for the last 18 years and they must not be allowed to run away from their record, we must make the run on that record. To do otherwise we would have failed the people of Guyana once again.
Mr. Ramotar, this election will not be about Blackie’s funeral and ACDA, this election will be about who can transform the sugar industry, arrest coastal flooding, rebuild and restore our educational and security sectors, job creation and national unity. Race based politics belongs in the garbage heap of history, let us leave it there, our children deserve better. Let’s vote for a good life for all Guyanese.
Mark Archer
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
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