THE PPP CONGRESS, AMAILA AND THEIR AFTERMATH


The Amaila Falls Hydro Project became a victim of Guyana’s political culture. The new Cheddi Jagan Airport and the Specialty Hospital are now in jeopardy. It is not known how the PPP came about the idea that it can move these projects forward in the National Assembly without a far higher degree of collaboration and trust. A Party of such vast experience appears to believe that once there are ‘healthy political debates,’ whatever the outcome, all are then expected to act the ‘interests of the country.’ Who determines those interests?

It is Guyana’s authoritarian political culture that is responsible for the failure of Amaila. This culture gave us the Skeldon Factory, the new Cheddi Jagan Airport and the Specialty Hospital with no ‘healthy political debate’ or consultation, and Amaila with initially little more than nominal disclosures. These flowed more freely only when Opposition votes in the National Assembly became necessary. Amaila was conceived, planned, negotiated and announced without any consultation or ‘healthy political debate,’ first as a fait accompli, then followed by a scramble for ex post facto support from the Opposition.

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THE EPIDEMIC OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAS BECOME A NATIONAL EMERGENCY


Most of the reports on domestic violence describe it as prevalent. Statistics are not reliable because of under reporting. Nevertheless all of the experts and activists in this field agree that the statistics that are available suggest that domestic violence in Guyana is extensive and deep rooted. The incidents of domestic violence against women and children over the past five years or so suggest that it has now reached epidemic proportions, notwithstanding a large number of government and non-government agencies which are doing dedicated work to reduce or prevent domestic violence. Domestic violence seem to be getting more gruesomely spectacular with each passing year.

While there can be substantial improvements in the services offered by both government and non-government bodies with the appropriate amount of resources, the impression of some observers is that the problems are too entrenched and in segments of society which are either not reached by agencies or, if reached, are impervious to the programmes normally deployed. It is believed that it is in these sections of society that the vast majority of incidents of domestic violence take place. Clearly the strategies adopted must take into account this fact and should target these communities in a more creative fashion.

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CUFFY WOULD APPEAL TO THE HISTORIC RECORD OF THE PPP, IF HE WERE ALIVE TODAY


By the time this article is published the Emancipation Day commemoration of the 175th Anniversary of the abolition of slavery would have passed. This year also marks the 250th anniversary of the 1763 Slave Rebellion and the 190th anniversary of the 1823 Demerara Slave Rebellion. The 1763 and 1823 Slave Rebellions, along with economic factors, culminated eventually in the abolition of slavery in 1838, and are among the most cataclysmic events which have shaped the history and consciousness of the Guyanese people, in particular African Guyanese. This opportunity is taken to pay tribute to the heroes of these momentous struggles, to reflect on the example they left for us to follow and to thank the African Guyanese people and others who have kept alive their memory. Before it was fashionable, the old PPP began to recognize our heroes and named its party school after Accabre.

This must be a time for all Guyanese to reflect on the enduring passion which has always existed for human liberty and human dignity amidst the most degrading and terrifying brutality imaginable. 1763 and 1823 demonstrated this to us on a large scale. But our history is replete with individual and group acts of courage in the face of certain death such that we today cannot even begin to comprehend. Our ancestors fought for their own, not our survival, but we survived because they fought.  African Guyanese are justly proud of the struggle of their ancestors for our freedom and for their achievements today although much more remains to be done.

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THE DAY I RESIGNED FROM THE PPP.


It was a Saturday morning, June 30, 2011, just over a year ago. I had gone to bed the night before at 7.30 pm, never so early as far as I remember. I opened one of the partially read books at my bedside but could barely concentrate. My wife, Janet, joined me at 9 pm, said nothing, went under the sheets and pretended to go to sleep. But I knew that sleep would not come to her as long as I was awake and in distress. I knew that during the night she would awaken about every hour and check if I was breathing. I turned off my night light at about 11 pm. She turned around, embraced me and I fell asleep.

I had come home unusually early the afternoon before from the Party Executive meeting. When I was about to leave home at midday for the meeting, Janet pleaded with me, as she often did in recent years, not to lose my temper. I had been on a short fuse for quite a while because of the increasing attacks to which I had been subjected at these meetings. Janet felt that an article I had recently written in which I said that there was pervasive corruption in Guyana might elicit some hostile comments. She feared that I might be tempted to respond.

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THE PPP HAS GROWN TIRED.


The long anticipated statement by the PPP in response to what I have
been writing is a disappointment. Instead of dealing with the issues
which I have highlighted, which are of great concern to the people of
Guyana and members and supporters of the PPP, it has chosen the well
worn path of personal abuse. The leadership of the PPP has lost its
will, its creative and dynamic impulses and the capacity of
constructive discourse. It is suffering from incumbency fatigue. It
has grown tired.

I am not the PPP’s problem. I am only the messenger. Since the PPP
chooses to attack the messenger, rather than deal with the message,
all the Guyanese electorate can look forward to in the future is more
of the political chaos that now prevails.

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