– WPA says time to end Guyana’s ‘ideological racism’
WORKING People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive, Dr. David Hinds, believes
that, no matter the ultimate winner of the 2020 General and Regional Elections, the only way to take Guyana into a harmonious future is through shared governance.
The WPA is a part of the six-party coalition which makes up the A Partnership for National Unity(APNU), along with the Alliance For Change (AFC) which broke the single party rulership radiation in 2015. In his column in the Sunday newspaper, Dr. Hinds made a bold move in the reiteration of his lobby for even greater collaboration but with the country’s leadership divided with the party which currently forms the opposition.
“I have lost interest in what is in those ballot boxes. I do not think national reconciliation and a peaceful Guyana reside in those boxes. The content of those boxes spell trouble-more trouble. Perhaps there will be a recount. And neither side would accept the out come of that recount if it is allowed to be concluded. And God knows what would happen,” Dr. Hinds wrote.
“Scrap this election. Destroy those boxes. Install an Interim Government led by Granger as president and the PPP man as Prime Minister. Divide the Cabinet equally between the two sides. Go back to the old parliament. Set up am independent Commission tasked with structurally overhauling GECOM, changing the governance architecture and the electoral laws to ensure outcomes that are in keeping with power sharing. Give them two years to do that and then go back to elections.”
The WPA Executive said that he last made the suggestion in unison with Political analyst, Dr. Henry Jeffrey. while on a radio programme hosted by media personality, Dennis Chabrol, on March 10, 2020.
In his observation, Guyana still gravely suffers from “ideological racism” and is constantly exposed to the risk of ethnic domination and ethnic marginalization.
On the other hand, he stated that the WPA is interested in a power-sharing government of national unity.
Dr. Hinds stated that while the People’s Progressive Party ( PPP) Opposition has hinged its emotive pitch for re-election on being the defenders of democracy, it is mistaken to paint the picture that the APNU+AFC government is a dictator ship.
He said that this “democracy crusade” is ultimately an enabler of one side of a bitter fight with ethnic overtones.
“Since the No-Confidence Vote of December 2018, we have witnessed the emergence of a cabal not a movement-that is prepared to use the rhetoric of democracy to reinstall the old regime that was cut short in 2015. Since there is no dictatorial PNC to justify their “democracy crusade”, they had to create one,” he said.
“The APNU+AFC government was not dictatorial, and did not have a pattern of abuse of the rule of law. Mistakes yes, but dictatorship no. But that does not deter the PPP from mobilizing a lot of decent and upstanding citizens of mostly one ethnic group to lend their names to this most recent defence of democracy. The symbol of the death of democracy is the ongoing saga which they claim was precipitated by the PNC’s attempt to steal the election.”
Since the breakdown in the tabulation of Statements of Poll for District Four at the beginning of March, the most recent unfolding has seen the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) agreeing to a full recount of the ballots cast at the March, 2,2020.
However. matters which could affect this are still before the Court of Appeal. Added to this, considering the existing restrictions in place to guard against the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), GECOM will have to approach government to discuss the facilitation of the possible recow1t.
No matter what happens, Dr. Hinds said that the current impasse presents an opportunity for Guyana’s political leaders and citizens to realise the value in working together for the greater good of tine country’s well-being.
He stated: “Armed with a history of activism and with the memory of recent history, I think this impasse could be an opportunity a reawakening of our desire to live together in harmony.
As uncomfortable as the last month has been, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise-an outcome to remind Guyanese that Guyana belongs to all of us.”
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_04_06_2020