Appointing top officers of the PPP to top positions would be the hottest slap in the face of the Coa

by Dr. David Hinds

APPOINTING top officers of the PPP to top positions would be the hottest slap in the face of the coalition’s supporters.

Just when I had begun to wonder whether they had learnt their lesson from the fallout over the ministerial wage hike, reports appeared in the press this past week that two ministers in the ousted PPP government are tipped for high-profile jobs in the government.

These reports had surfaced shortly after the APNU+AFC coalition took office in May. There was no confirmation from the government then, and there was none this past week. Normally one would read such non-confirmation as a sign that the story is based on mere speculation, but after the experience with the wage hike, when the government initially denied reports that it was contemplating such a move, one is forced to take these reports seriously. As they say, once bitten twice shy.

While I am still hoping that there is no merit to these reports, I have to proceed on the belief that they are being contemplated.

If the government were to make such appointments, they would represent a blunder only slightly less grievous than the ministerial salary hikes. Every citizen, regardless of party affiliation, has a right to work, but this is not a case of simply finding work for citizens; these would be deliberate political appointments. The jobs which were cited in the press do not require any particular set of skills on which the two former ministers have a monopoly. The government will have to explain how such appointments fit into its larger political strategy.

The problem is that one gets the impression that there is no well thought-out political strategy or direction.

This government came to power as part of a transformational spirit that invariably infected a large section of our society. After more than two decades of backward governance, the appetite for something new and forward-thinking in the halls of government is huge. After six months at the helm, the report card for the government is mixed. Some may say, with much justification, that it is too early to judge a government. I can say that the government has done an excellent job at delivering services to the people in multiple areas. It has gone a long way towards restoring faith in government as a medium for meeting the basic common needs of the citizenry. But the government has not handled the larger political questions in the same manner. No government succeeds only on effective routine administration of the bureaucracy. That has to be complemented by a clear political direction that is grounded in a keen sense of where the governors want to take the society. In other words, what kind of society do you want to build? Do you want to continue the status quo, which you railed against, or do you want to change course?

I have to admit that six months is enough time to provide proper answers to those questions. I am still waiting on the President to articulate to the country a clear political strategy and direction, and the principles that would guide them.

The government made an offer of power-sharing to the PPP, which was rejected. The PPP has no interest in sharing power with anyone; they want it all for themselves. Thus the coalition may be tempted to believe that the next best option would be to co-opt a few PPP officials and that would pass as power-sharing. The government may be hoping that the masses would see such a move in positive terms. Unfortunately, that is not power- sharing; it simply amounts to a form of political opportunism that yields no results for national unity.

The PPP tried it; they called it Inclusive Governance. A few so-called non-PPP/Civic people fell for it. Mr Jagdeo said then that non-PPP people were welcome, but only on the PPP’s terms. In other words, we have the power and we will co-opt and use you to mask our politics of dominance. Is that what this government wants to emulate? I, for one, would have serious problems supporting such a political strategy.

I am for power-sharing with the PPP in principle, but I am thoroughly opposed to any political games with PPP people. This business of buying individuals from across the aisle is demeaning, and should be discontinued.

The other problem for the government, should it go ahead with such a move, is that it would once again put itself on a collision course with its supporters. We do not need pollsters to tell us that government supporters want the wrongs of the past government to be prosecuted. Much to the frustration of its supporters, the government has been indecisive on that score. This is compounded by the fact that many PPP operatives known for discriminating against poor people perceived to be supporters of the then opposition parties are still in their positions. To now appoint top officers of that government to top positions would be the hottest slap in the face of the coalition’s supporters.

More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com