Georgetown: Political Commentator, Dr Henry Jeffrey says Guyana’s elections are essentially determined by ethnic loyalties and politicians must not shy away from raising the issue responsibly on the campaign trail, with a view of fighting it instead of endorsing it.
Dr Jeffrey, a former Government Minister, said that political parties must come up with plans and workable mechanisms to fight all forms of racism as they continue to take an anti-racist stance on the campaign trail.
He opined that the issue of racism in Guyana is not a “new” phenomenon but has been recognised since the early 1950’s.
He said the political parties want to keep their own supporters, but are still seeking to grab from the other. To be successful, he said, they must advocate for peace, and seek to encourage the electorate to fight against racism.
Former President
Meanwhile, former President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has urged a group of young people to stand up vociferously against racism and any other attempts to create division in Guyana. Speaking at an event ‘Night of Reflection’, organised by the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) to commemorate the life of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan, Jagdeo said to do this would be to live up to the philosophy on which the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is formed under Dr Jagan’s stewardship.
“We must fight it (racism) with every ounce of breath that we have and every drop of blood to ensure that this time they do not divide our people. They do not divide the people of this country. The country deserves better. We must condemn it every single day,” he passionately explaimed, referring to recent reports in the press about comments he made regarding the PPP/C and race. “That’s not what the PPP is about. The PPP is about people, progress, development, working together and changing this country.”
Meanwhile, the former President made a swat at what he said was a ‘70’s mentality displayed by Presidential Candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition, noting that Guyana needs 21st century leadership.
“I wasn’t critical of Granger’s age when I spoke at Babu Jaan, but I was saying it is the nimbleness of the mind that matters most. And if you are stuck in a philosophy when everything you talk about is from the era that you have come from, and that you think that those solutions of the 70’s are relevant in a 21st century context. Different era, Granger! Totally, different era!”
The former President also reiterated the fact that those policies have failed.
For him, the appointment of three Vice Presidents is an expression of ‘outdated’ thinking. “What are you going to do with all those Vice-Presidents, use them as bait to catch fish is the Demerara River?” he expressed, while questioning the rationale of the decision.
According to Jagdeo, this is more an expression of ‘extravagance’ than the claims levelled against the People’s Progressive Party today.
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