By Ryhaan Shah
There are real fears that Guyana is descending rapidly into another of its dark hours, last experienced during the previous People’s National Congress (PNC) dictatorship. There seems to be, as then, an alignment of political interests, local and international, that might well work to leverage the PNC back into power, which will surely spread the darkness into 2020 and beyond.
It is no secret that Guyana’s third political force is the international community and the country’s dependency on foreign aid makes it a ready pawn to be meddled with as they see fit. There were politicians willing to ally themselves with the PNC in order to bring that minority party back into power in 2015 and the Granger Government’s absolute refusal to consider any renegotiation of the contract signed with ExxonMobil, which is wholly disadvantageous to Guyana’s interests, presents a strong public perception that any current meddling is being dictated by the need to control our oil reserves.
In 1964, when Premier Cheddi Jagan was ousted from office through CIA-funded violence against People’s Progressive Party (PPP) supporters, there was only a fledgling civil society, and a press that was controlled by the colonials. Those media outlets protected the urban business class who were mostly aligned against Indian interests and their upward mobility, politically, economically, and socially.
The in-coming US-backed dictator Forbes Burnham allowed no press freedom, used violence against his political enemies, and controlled the Judiciary. But times have changed. There is now an active civil society that includes a host of local critics and international agencies like Transparency International who will not be easily silenced if democratic freedoms in Guyana are threatened.
Press freedoms can still be curtailed by firing critics of the State as the “Chronicle” did recently but with the advent of Internet communications, it would be difficult for Granger to control the media and the message coming out of Guyana, as his PNC predecessor Burnham did.
Regarding Guyana’s current situation vis-à-vis the oil: While giant international corporations wish to exploit this find, this surely should not entail support for a corrupt government. Where there should have been an equitable and just agreement with the Guyana Government, the ExxonMobil contract, instead, is considered part of the widespread corruption being openly practised by the Granger Administration.
The shrinking economy stands as evidence of their ineptness at macro-economics and high finance, and as testament to racist economic policies which target the Indian Guyanese community, such as the rash move to close sugar estates without any proper economic strategy in place.
It is also very likely that Guyana will succumb to the Dutch Disease in short order come 2020 and the first barrelling of the oil if this sector is to be managed by a re-elected PNC Government.
The US spent much energy and financial resources to restore democracy to Guyana in 1992. Granted the PPP/Civic Government were no angels, but Guyana recorded real economic growth under their management even though their time in office was marred by continuous unrest fuelled by PNC protests and terrorism, neither of which favoured social stability and investor confidence.
Given another chance to show itself worthy of governing, all the PNC can offer as a blueprint for the future is Burnham’s failed policies which only resulted in despair, hopelessness, and complete economic ruination. It is in no one’s interest – including the international community’s – to have Guyana slide backwards into that dark past.
Like political parties everywhere, the PPP works to secure its own interests – just look at the Republicans in the US – but there is no reason why those interests cannot be aligned to those of the international community and the entire Guyanese populace, especially if a solid commitment to constitutional reform with an eye to establishing shared or inclusive governance post 2020 is secured. Surely, every political party accepts that this is the win-win solution for Guyana.
Granger’s unilateral appointment of the Guyana Elections Commission chair raises real fears that the PNC intends to rig the 2020 elections in order to retain power. These fears are rooted in the precedence set by the Burnham dictatorship; and the Granger Government’s rather brazen flouting of the rule of law suggests that it is being assured of continued support from powerful backers – just as Burnham was.
The Government’s racism, corruption and incompetence are surely not what the forgers of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition signed on for or, maybe, even expected. Come 2020, therefore, Guyanese of every colour, creed and political persuasion must know that they will be able to vote in elections that will be free, fair and transparent. Failing this, Guyana will be doomed to darkness again.
