Conversation Tree

A fascinating spectacle is unfolding in the British politics. One of its  greatest political prizes, the leadership of the Labour Party, is at stake and two brothers are leading the contest. Sons of the late Ralph Milliband, one of Britain’s leading Marxist intellectuals, David and Ed Milliband both served in the Cabinet of the last Labour Government. David was the Foreign Secretary and Ed was the Environmental Secretary. David, the front runner, had been an advisor to Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister and Ed, the younger of the two, emerged into prominence under Gordon Brown.

Even though David does not pretend to have any left credentials, Ed is perceived to be on the centre left. But in Labour Party politics, especially since the Blair era, all Marxist influence was eradicated. Long before, since the time of Harold Wilson, the distinction between centre and centre left was a matter of mere opportunistic nuance, not ideology, even though the Marxist and progressive left was still strong and exercised real influence. In any event, once in office, Labour follows the dictates of market economics, pandering to the City, and succumbs to the ‘charms’ across the Atlantic, be they those of Jack Kennedy, George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush. British foreign policy slavishly follows that of the United States, as with Guyana in the 1960s. And we have seen in the 2000s that in relation to the Iraq War, Britain ditched its allies in Europe and went along with the US.

This President of Guyana, like all past Presidents, including Burnham and Hoyte, has not only a right, but a duty, to visit as much of Guyana as possible. One would have thought that, having regard to the recent history surrounding Buxton, and the regular outreach exercises pioneered and perfected by the President, that all would know that Buxton would be a prime candidate for a Presidential visit.

 

Guyana is not unique in its system of adversarial politics. In fact, Guyana shares with most democratic countries an elected legislature to which competing parties seek membership. The extent of that membership depends on the votes received by political parties in elections. Each political party at these elections seek to persuade the electorate that it is the best equipped to lead the country. Only one party or a group which coalesces before or after the elections, or in the case of presidential elections, one candidate, emerges successful and forms the government. The unsuccessful party

becomes the opposition or minority. During the term of office of the government the opposition criticizes the policies and offers alternatives in preparation for the next elections when it will again try to prove that the government has failed. It may or may not succeed.

ese problems. I and both the PPP and the government have repeatedly pointed out  the measures which have been taken. Nevertheless these remain matters of concern to many people. I have written articles urging that additional measures, already outlined by the Government, be taken to eliminate or reduce the subsistence of these problems so that the continuing concerns of citizens will be addressed.

The first of the eight Millenium Development Goals is to “eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.” The quantifiable targets of this goal, to be achieved by 2015, is to reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day; to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people; to reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. 

The Government of Guyana has committed to these goals so that the abolition of extreme poverty is really confirming what the government has already undertaken to do and will no doubt form a part of the manifesto of the PPP/C for the next general elections.