In one of my recent columns, I exposed the hypocrisy and double standards of three very vocal writers and personalities who continue to spread anti-People’s Progressive Party (PPP) propaganda and rhetoric in an attempt to hoodwink the public and delegitimise that Party’s track record in office which began in 1992. I emphasised the point that the trio, whose mission was to also constantly attack PPP personalities by rehashing lies, rumours and alternative facts about the Party’s tenure in office, was working as an integral part of the Government’s public relation machinery due to the fact that no one takes it’s Department of Public Information seriously.
And finally, I strongly upbraided the trio for doing a disservice to the public by parading themselves as independent critics, patriots, and academic beings who possess some higher level of intellectual acumen that all other Guyanese apparently failed to acquire, when in fact they were only interested in blatantly shielding the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government from taking direct responsibility for many of the poorly thought governance policies and corrupt transactions that it has undertaken since 2015. They were only interested in damage control mechanisms for a Government that is demonstrating indifference and scorn every day for public criticisms, and dissident within its own camp. In short, the trio was prepared to stoop to any level to ensure that the PPP never regains power in this country, because they all have a personal vendetta and hatred for the current politicians who sit at the helm of the PPP; Bharrat Jagdeo in particular.
Since writing that column, the trio has found creative ways of rebutting the arguments I made. One of them was so affected that he threw his belly and soul into criticising several columnists in this newspaper but not before branding them “slimy eels”. He said these “slimy eels” were pushing a particular agenda since 2015, as he tried painstakingly to avoid his usual gutter rhetoric and personal rants. Another pro Government supporter – an integral part of the so called movement to right the alleged wrongs done to afro Guyanese only by the PPP during its 23 years in office – desperately writes a letter in another section of the press accusing the columnists here of incitement and being dangerous. Others have also responded on social media. I must admit that it is not surprising that the trio and those who support this Government would see persons who freely, and responsibly, as well as objectively, express their views here as a threat. We are a threat because our sole aim and objective is educating the public by providing them with the raw, unedited and factual picture of the Guyana we currently live in. I believe that I, like any other right-thinking Guyanese, am duty bond to serve as a watchdog for the populace, even if it means criticising and exposing the shameful and most times deliberate skulduggery of folks who hold high office.
The reason persons would find difficulty with the work done by a few columnists here is because it is having an impact and appealing to a wide cross-section of Guyanese. Try as hard as they may, it is a fact that there are racists elements serving in the Government at some of the highest levels. Just look at the President’s shameful response to the Lloyda Nicholas-Garrett scandal. It is also a fact that there are East Indians who serve in the Government establishment that have been mistreated, sidelined and abused by supporters of the Government because of their ethnicity. It happened too under the PPP but to a lesser extent. Just look at the constant scandals in every sector and the desperation that follows in order to deceive the nation and blame the PPP.
The APNU and its junior coalition partners have not delivered in any realistic way, the things they promised back in 2011 and 2015. No one is enjoying any “Good Life” as the Finance Minister touts. It spent all of its energies and time witch-hunting the PPP and engaging in a systematic ethnic cleansing of certain institutions, that it failed to realise that the economy was going under, investors were withdrawing and the level of hopelessness was rising. That is the problem. We have a Government that is bent on implementing outdated policies and measures in a modern era.
Also, it is a fact that those within the APNU/AFC inner circle fear the return of Jagdeo to power more than the PPP itself. They have always had a problem with his style and ability to maintain high levels of affection with people from all parts of Guyana, regardless of the relentless smear campaign and the gullible stories told by paid whistle-blowers. The truth is, many Guyanese would prefer Jagdeo any day because he possess a sober mind and disposition that results in affirmative actions and results. There’s no doubt about who is in charge. And the policies that are implemented are people’s policies that speak to bread and butter issues.
So if sharing such a viewpoint makes people like me “slimy eels”, then we are proud to be so labelled. After all, is not people like us who should be feared or scorned, but those ‘bottom house parrots and venereal sores’ that continue to see the wrongdoings and racial divisive politics of personalities in this Government but selectively call them out. They should be condemned because they are so blinded by their hate for Jagdeo and the PPP that they are ignorant of the hardships being endured by the people of this country under the current political configuration. While they make funny sounds and from time to time are able to speak words of reason like a parrot, they will never realise this country needs socio-political healing and reconciliation. It needs ethnic unity and more free speech advocates on all sides of the divide to get governments to function properly. It does not need bottom house parrots and puppets. I urge those who cannot stamina my justified criticisms of both the PPP and coalition when necessary to take a cracker and several seats.
