Latest update May 4th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 15, 2015 Letters
Dear Editor,
As the emotional phase of the 2015 elections winds down, the PPP/C leadership must take stock of why it was edged out of office. It must begin the process of rebuilding the party to address areas in which it went wrong so as to improve its chance of winning the next election. A frank, incisive stocktaking is needed.
The party must take cognizant of the fact that since almost 50 per cent of the population voted against the party two times in a row, something was amiss – perhaps its policies and implementation was/is in need of rehabilitation and its personnel (leadership included) replaced. A reconfiguration of the party is badly needed if it is to re-attract those who left brining about the party’s defeat.
As many complained during the 2011 and 2015 campaigns, the PPP/C failed to ensure that almost the entire population benefited from its economic focus and the many initiatives it undertook.
Supporters complained that they were neglected and many did not vote, particularly in 2011. In addition, the party allowed its leadership, some Ministers and other lower governmental officials to become all too powerful, ignoring the wants of the people and dismissing their complaints.
In going into the 2015 elections, the party seemed to have learned nothing from its 2011 defeat. The party erred in not making necessary changes to its leadership after the 2011 election fiasco. It did not bring in significant new faces to its parliamentary line up after 2011 and it made several blunders in parliament, not least working with the opposition majority in parliament.
It unwisely fought the ambassadors of the major Western countries. In addition, credible individuals from the civic were not courted or recruited to show the party has changed although supporters were crying out for change and pleading for service.
Not surprisingly, the party lost a sufficient number of supporters (failed to re-attract them) to prevent what took place on May 11. Because of so many unforced blunders, it will be a long haul for the party to return to government. The leadership has to be creative and innovative in trying to woo back those who abandoned the party and to win over those who voted for APNU+AFC. Unless the party reinvents and re-engineers itself with new leadership, it will go the way of the PNC after its defeat in 1992 – out of power for a long time.
For the party to make a comeback politically, it must appoint credible young faces in its parliamentary line up and leadership as well begin the process of internal reform as part of a rebuilding process.
The latter requires a new wave of political thinking that centers on “accommodative politicking” or coalition building which is opposed by the old timers and hardliners. To make way for the newer generation, the party has to retire the old timers and those who are holdovers from the 1990s and those hardliners who find it an honor to oppose the major western powers; the latter are still stuck in a cold war mentality while the world has moved on.
The party must move on to its second tier leadership to spearhead the reform and rebuilding process. The old timers can hold the fort for an interim period till the party holds a special election to choose new leadership (new blood).
There are a few strong young leaders within the party who can be a nucleus to bring needed changes and move the party into a modern era, moving it away from the 1960s model of struggles.
Ashni Singh, Irfaan Ali, Anil Nandlall, Priya Manikchand, and Robert Persaud were rated very highly as Minister as well as a Members of Parliament. The party will have to find someone in the mould of a Cheddi Jagan who dedicates himself full time to politics. There are not many like him around.
Persaud has indicated a lack of interest in politics and Nandlall, one of the most brilliant lawyers and a rising star, recently ran into problems with political gaffes and may find it difficult to recover his one-time leading stature. The party can tap into its civic component where there are several professionals with strong potential for parliamentary representation and leadership. Professionals from the civic have a greater ability to win over the critical business community and floating voters as well as draw cross ethnic support that will be needed for any future electoral victory because of the party’s declining support base.
Individuals like Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, Elisabeth Harper, Dr. Mahinder Sharma, Joe Hamilton, and Africo Selman, among others, should be encouraged to play a leading role in the party especially since they were on the civic list.
Their likeability ratings are extremely high. Ramsaroop and Sharma should be encouraged to play a front line role in the new parliament as he is well liked by both the PPP and APNU base. It should not go unnoticed that Ramsaroop helped formulate the National Front Alliance whose leader Keith Scott is now a Minister in the coalition government.
Also, Ramsaroop was a key executive in the REFORM which started change in the PNC that has captured the government from the PPP. He was also a key initiator in the formation of the Third Force that morphed into the AFC and a key player in JOPP which ultimately transformed into APNU that is now in government with AFC.
Ramsaroop, Sharma, Selman, and Hamilton, understands each of their politics and can play strategic roles in the rebuilding of the PPP.
Now that it is a de facto opposition, the party should consider appointing shadow ministers to keep track of government undertakings regardless of whether it sits in parliament.
Leadership is about courage and the PPP indisputably needs new leaders that can demonstrate they are once again ready to lead the nation as Dr. Jagan did in the 1950s and 1992. The PPP/C needs to articulate an attractive vision and all efforts must be made to get out of the 1960s model politics driven by some old timers and embrace the modern approach to unity politics needed to win elections and govern diverse Guyana.
Vishnu Bisram
GRA catch EXXON trying to hunch GUYANA over 11 BUS dollars in one shot!!!!
May 04, 2024
SportsMax – The West Indies Women defeated hosts Pakistan by eight wickets in the fifth and final T20 International at the Karachi National Stadium yesterday to complete a 4-1 series victory....Kaieteur News – I have not read the decision of Justice Sandil Kissoon in the case brought by the Guyana Teachers’... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]