Anna Correia
Basil Williams never figured among the brightest of the PNC scholars, but instead, is just another indoctrinated descendant of the late dictator Burnham, intent on applying Burnhamite methods to govern Guyana. And by Burnhamite methods, one understands racist and divisive tactics destined to favour party supporters and exclude anyone else. The mere fact that someone like Williams is allowed such high offices in the coalition, speaks to the PNC’s inability to reform itself into an inclusive government built on the principles of participatory democracy.
As I’ve always maintained, if someone like Williams can be allowed to attack democracy in such an unrestrained manner as we’ve seen this past week, it is only because the President himself refuses to govern impartially over Guyana’s human diversities. The subsequent deterioration of the ethnic fissures since the APNU/AFC took over in 2015, is a reminder of the party’s heinous myopic agenda that blots out any potential of minority coalition parties, which technically serve no other purpose but to maintain the PNC in power. History repeated itself in the form of a coalition victory in 2015, teaching us that the PNC is nothing more than a self-serving parasite which can achieve nothing on its own, and is a herald of destruction and gloom. Whatever its nemesis the PPP builds, the PNC will try to destroy.
We witnessed this with the PNC’s objection to the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP) drafted under Jagdeo’s LCDS Agreement, at a cost of some US$80 million of which not a cent would have been borne by taxpayers. The project aimed to provide up to 90 per cent of domestic energy and would have launched the industrialisation of our economy while stimulating growth. But in its usual backward Burnhamite mentality, the coalition came up with the idea of taxing citizens with a 14 per cent increase on GPL’s miserable services. Interestingly, all eyes are now riveted on the coalition to see its response to the Norad Final Report on the AFHEP, which recommends the implementation of the project through consultation with its architect, the PPP. A sure stab in the pride of the PNC.
Almost as if unable to contain its thirst for vengeance, the AG last Thursday, December 29, by some obscure manipulation of the Law, decided that the lease on which is premised the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (Red House) was invalid. In his spiteful haste, the unlearned AG didn’t take the time to realise that never is a lease signed by the President of Guyana.
In my tenure as Project Manager for the Amerindian Land Titling Project, I have seen enough leases to attest to this. The President of Guyana on the contrary, signs on permanent ownership documents such as Titles.
President Granger on Friday then ordered the eviction of the CJRC by Saturday, December 31, 2016. Several questions come to mind, especially since the extremely short lapse of time between the AG’s announcement and the President’s eviction notice, suggest that the entire process was a planned coup. The Government claims it attempted to negotiate with the Opposition, but in reality, what it wanted was to change the purpose of the establishment so that it would honour all former Presidents, particularly Burnham.
If it really wanted to resolve this conflict, it would have negotiated to regularise whatever inconsistencies are associated with the lease. Instead, like the self-serving parasite that it is, it prefers to bulldoze its way to insult Jagan’s legacy and the will of Guyana’s largest electorate.
The PNC’s disregard for democracy attained its climax when the Social Protection Minister herself, Volda Lawrence, led a group of brawling trouble-makers to disrupt the peaceful candle-light vigil held by the Opposition and its supporters in front of the CJRC on Friday night. In the typical aggressive, ratchet behaviour so characteristic of PNC mobs, verbal and physical assaults described the scene which ensued.
Minister Lawrence by abusing the civil rights of the people, has permanently tarnished her own reputation which already finds little favour among the Guyanese civil society.
With the videos of this tragic event going viral on social media, one can only expect to see more ethnic and political divisiveness among Guyanese. Among the slogans and invectives which sprung from the mouths of Lawrence’s counter-protesters, the name “Burnham” dominated.
Burnham is indeed back. And his “visionary” ruthless ambitions have set the tone for 2017.
