What would Freddie do were he in Opposition?

Jun 13, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
One for Freddie Kissoon. An interesting article headed ‘The PNC: A revisionist note’ in a recent column.
In the closing paragraphs, the comment “……. the PNC has let down its constituencies and the Guyanese people by a crazy, macabre resignation of their fate since they lost power in 1992. The PNC must be the world’s only opposition party that does not want to be in office” gripped my attention.
In political terms, I think the problem may be that the PNC is not as ‘strong’ as the PPP on many fronts, principally numerically and in ethnic identity. Class also plays a part.
In Guyana an “East Indian” is an “E. I.” is an “E. I.”, whereas an African is not, generally, so regarded among themselves. Much depends on skin tone, or in Guyanese parlance ‘complexion’. On holiday recently, I was startled to hear a dark-skinned negro chap describing his new girlfriend as a “nice, clear skin girl”.
In the 1980s, in London, I attended a function given in honour of a PNC bigwig. In bidding farewell, a dark-skinned office bearer walked over to the sofa on which sat three ‘clear-skinned’ men and said laughingly “all the red men sitting together”. The men stared at him frostily and silently – all old QC chaps.
In the 1990s, in London, I attended a welcome meeting for the late Dr Jagan. The PPP’s ‘Thunder’ (?) was distributed free to every group of Indians as they entered the meeting hall, the leftovers were offered to non-Indians at the sale price as they left the meeting!
I think it is not that the Guyanese people are left to their fate but that the Opposition feels helpless to do anything about correcting the situation. Strong, capable leadership is sorely needed and, until it is found, our people will just have to “cut and contrive”.
Geralda Dennison