Jagdeo will use these talks as a testing ground for his political survival

SEPTEMBER 19, 2015 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER LETTERS

Dear Editor, The recent invitation by President David Granger to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for the ruling coalition and the PPPC to have discussions on national unity has received commendations from influential political analysts like Ralph Ramkarran, Henry Jeffrey and GHK Lall. However, it has gotten mixed responses from other citizens across the political divide. The people’s response to this important political matter seems to be influenced to a great extent by our history of divisive politics. It is therefore not surprising that the reflex action of a large section of the society is to dismiss the unity initiative as a waste of time. In this matter our historical conditioning as well as our more recent political experiences engendered by the results of the last General and Regional Elections, along with the PPPC’s rejection of the results of those elections, have combined to produce a difficult political situation that can frustrate the efforts of the President of Guyana who is genuinely interested in advancing national reconciliation. The one good thing to note is that in spite of widespread apprehension, there is a significant section of the society that takes the optimistic view that some measure of meaningful progress can be achieved if the proposed talks between the two main political blocks take place. But how realistic is this expectation given the political reality? On the one hand, we have the well intended President and his coalition block (which includes a major component that came out of the PPPC and which has antagonistic relations with that party’s leadership) had announced that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will lead the government’s side in the discussion. On the other hand we have the situation of Mr. Clement Rohee, the PPPC General Secretary who in response to the government’s statement was quite quick to go on record, as saying, if Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo leads the government team as announced it is a “non starter”. The question that arises is whether on this matter Rohee’s position is the considered PPPC’s position. However, it is Mr. Jagdeo as opposition leader who will in the end be the person stating the PPPC’s position. But has he an interest in doing this at this time? Time will tell. His politics is that of the acquisition of personal power. His ambition is to regain the Presidency of Guyana at all cost. With this mind set he is unlikely to put party and nation before personal interest. It is hard to see how a man whose leadership has redefined Guyanese politics in the most retrogressive way, can overnight, without any public self criticism, contribute in any positive way to national reconciliation and healing. It is doubtful at this period in PPPC’s history that there will be a party position on any significant issue that is different to that of Mr. Jagdeo’s. So these talks, if they ever take place, will be a one man affair on the opposition side: the former President will use the talks, as a testing ground for his political survival. Mr. Granger being a relatively new political personality with no historical baggage, is well placed as President, to move the country forward to national reconciliation and healing. Success for him will depend on correct political timing and a well thought out approach that has support among the masses across the political divide. His expected public declaration of principles for the unity talks will have to be convincing to both political blocks. He has to win APNU+AFC supporters, or, run the risk of being seen as betraying post elections expectations as it relates to the accountability of the former regime. He also has to be careful that the unity talks are not seen as a political ploy to consolidate power between the elites of the two political blocks at the expense of national interest. In this important issue the President will be well advised not to depend on personal charm to achieve his objective when dealing with the PPPC and Mr. Jagdeo. A leadership (like the PPPC’s) that gave rise to the criminalization of the state is an immoral and dangerous group of politicians. Collectively, they have demonstrated that they have mastered the art of political deception. Mr. Granger coming out of his recent engagement with Mr. Jagdeo seems to have made the political judgment that the PPPC in spite its public combative posture can be “coaxed” into responsible political relations in the interest of the nation. The President is entitled to his judgment and his decision to invest political capital in this national effort is a display of political will. My advice to him is to be mindful of the failed Corbin/Jagdeo unity talks that achieved nothing of substance for the nation. Those secret talks turned out to be more damaging to Mr. Corbin’s political reputation among PNCR supporters. Unlike Corbin, Granger is President and is therefore in the driving seat. But given our mass political culture he still runs the risk of being unfairly seen by his supporters as being weak and willing to concede too much to Jagdeo. The President’s olive branch to the opposition can backfire and do more harm than good. Mr. Granger must be shrewd enough to understand that at this juncture it may not be in his best political interest to invest too much in a process that maybe still born given Jagdeo’s and the PPPC’s present political posture where they continue to give the impression that they won the elections and are the de facto rulers of the country. Until that thinking is erased from their minds political reconciliation and healing would remain an idea that is lost to them. Once the Jagdeo and the PPPC continue to believe that they can win the next election, they will not be inclined to take unity talks seriously. From their utterances, both public and private, they seem to have convinced themselves that they can do so. It is being rumored that they are feverishly conspiring to have these elections some time before 2020. Even if they agree to talks it will only be to buy time. The nation awaits that party’s self criticism for wrong doings and its acknowledgement that its twenty three years in office has resulted in massive destruction of the institutions of the state and of the moral fabric of the society. At a personal level it is my profound political conviction that Guyana will only realize its full potential when national unity is achieved. I also believe that executive power sharing must be the corner stone of that unity- I am concerned that premature talks can be counterproductive and will push the struggle for national unity backwards. Tacuma Ogunseye