In any democratic society, engaging in open dialogue and understanding the challenges faced by different political parties is essential to fostering cooperation and progress. However, it is unfortunate, even sad, that Ralph Ramkarran, S.C., in The Conversation Tree [ House Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Guyana] in Stabroek News 24, 2023, has unjustifiably criticised this much anticipated meeting between Congressman and the Opposition. In fact, the content of Ramkarran’s column makes the case for the meeting even stronger. However, to really understand what he is purposefully attempting to achieve at a deeper political level we need to unpack his column.
Whilst he purports to be speaking for most Guyanese [paragraph 1], and welcomed the meeting between the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) led by the House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries and the delegation from the Guyana Government he seems to have a problem with the Congressman meeting with a delegation of Members of Parliament from the Opposition, to continue the dialogue. He apparently does not see any value or utility in this meeting. This is demonstrated by the fact that in his entire article he has not once said anything about positive possible outcomes of this meeting.
Surprisingly, he is needlessly deterministic. Being immersed in this extant toxic political environment does not by necessity induce a sudden individual gestalt-shift to a different kind of politics which allows for open and genuine dialogue. As a result, he has already determined that the meeting with the opposition, “is to continue to promote a partisan agenda in Guyana and also a personal political agenda in the US to secure votes in the 8th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York…” [paragraph 7] How he arrived at that conclusion about a meeting that is yet to be convened is anyone’s guess. He seems to be hinting at a quid pro quo or a collusion between the Congressman and the Opposition to undermine efforts at strengthening democracy and finding endogenous solutions to our challenges. What might be said, however, is that his statement does not only contradicts his postulations about democracy but betrays his thinly veiled pretense to be working to find solutions to Guyana’s intractable racial and other political and social problems.
Further, for someone who has been in politics for ages, Ramkarran ought to know that, one of the fundamental principles of a healthy democracy is open dialogue and the exchange of ideas. Engaging with the opposition is crucial to understanding diverse perspectives and finding common ground to address extant challenges we face as a nation. Therefore, the proposed meeting between Congressman and the Opposition to hear about its challenges should be viewed as a positive step towards effective governance rather than a cause for unjustified criticisms.
Shockingly, in paragraph 3, he sees a photograph of the Congressman and Rickford Burke as a contrivance against the government. Again, he is very judgmental of Rickford Burke referring to him as, “one of Guyana’s most rancorous opposition polemicists on race and ethnicity…”. His judgement not only makes him guilty of the transgression of which the opposition continues to express concern: negatively labelling certain individuals, groups and communities that do not agree with the lope-sided and discriminatory policies and actions of the incumbent but also speaks to the lack of will, in our society, to discuss race relations in an open and objective manner.
Citing with great trepidation the speech made by the Congressman in June 2022, in which he insisted that the government should treat all Guyanese fairly, and that racism would not be tolerated. Ramkarran then went on to list a number of cases, in the international community, where the Congressman made no statement or remained silent as he puts it. As a result, he dismisses Jeffries’s concern about the African Diaspora as “…contrived and hypocritical”.
In his haste to find the Congressman involved in duplicitous politics, he forgot the most important word that shapes and influences expressions and actions in the crucible of international relations- context. The contexts of the cases listed by Ramkarran are varied as they are different. Obviously, those situations would require different responses and actions, which not only America but also other state and non- state actors in the international community have been taking, in so many different ways.
But who could be more hypocritical that the columnist who clearly understands the nuances of local political culture? Yet, he refuses to speak up in the face of numerous acts of discrimination and marginalisation of the opposition, by the PPP/C government. Just to mention a few: The government has not invited the opposition to sit on state boards with oversight of critical ministries and corporations. This means that nearly half of the population continue to be denied participation in the decision- making process.
Again, statistics show that state contracts are awarded disproportionately to those contractors, who are not affiliated to the PPP/C.
And while public servants bear the heavy burden of taxation including VAT, they are faced with rising cost of living which is making it increasingly difficult for them to put food on their tables. We are yet to hear Ramkarran on the government’s flagrant disregard of the Collective Bargaining Agreement which could facilitate dialogue between the government and workers’ representatives- the unions- to give public servants a living wage.
Also, the Guyana Police Force has been politicised; certain officers are taking orders form political actors and members of the PPP/C. Look at the way the police handled, the Nigel Dharamlall allegations of sexual exploitations, the murder of Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes, who was killed execution-style in March 2021 outside a popular Main Street, Georgetown night spot, and damning allegations made on social media by police sergeant Dion Bascom who implicated several high-ranking policemen in the cover-up of the murder of Ricardo Fagundes known as ‘Paper Shorts. ‘ There are many other cases which demonstrate that people are not treated equal under the law.
In the face of a properly appointed Police Service Commission, the President has extended the tenure of the acting Police Commissioner without any reference to the opposition.
The President has refused to appoint a substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary and a chief Justice. The implications of this neglect by the president particularly on the integrity of the judiciary are frightening. the withholding of funds by the government from International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G)
There is much wisdom in congressman Jeffries’ action to meet with the opposition. A meeting with the opposition allows for a comprehensive assessment of the country’s challenges, helping policymakers make informed decisions that benefit all citizens. Such productive dialogue can lay the foundation for bipartisan cooperation and demonstrative commitment to inclusive governance.
The idea that Ralph Ramkarran could boldly criticise this proposed meeting between the Congressman Jeffries and members of the opposition is particularly stunning. It undermines both the spirit and principle of democracy. In essence, his criticisms are unjustified and only serve to obstruct the possibility of addressing serious political, economic and social challenges effectively.
