OP-ED: “People Get the Government They Deserve”

In today’s Guyana, the defenders of democracy have fallen strangely silent. Once vocal critics, some now find themselves sated by the contracts and perks they have received from the PPP government, all because of their unwavering loyalty following the 2020 elections. Others cower silently in the shadows, their faces betraying a sense of shame. Some have even chosen to emigrate to greener pastures, leaving behind the chaos and corruption they once willingly endorsed. And then there are those who continue to defend the PPP’s corruption and ineptitude, trapped on the high horse they mounted during the elections, seemingly unable to dismount.

Their bold and righteous claims of election rigging now ring hollow, for all of them are aware of the PPP’s legacy of rigging every election since 2011. However, for many, clutching onto this notion of election rigging and stolen democracy clashes starkly with their acceptance of extrajudicial killings, corruption, money laundering, ineptitude, racism, and contempt for the poor that have come to define the PPP’s rule.

On social media, you can hear the grumbling and discontent. Fundamentally, many recognize that the PPP is a party that favors creating a new elite class, and even the old elites must tread cautiously. The newcomers within the PPP are ruthless, pursuing every corrupt dollar they can find. It’s not just old money, but also foreign investors and even loyal supporters of the party who must now be aware of the beast they helped unleash and propel into power.

In every industry, inept PPP cronies struggle to manage effectively, leading to shoddy work on contracts and billions wasted on ill-conceived projects with frequent cost overruns. The regime’s racism is no longer subtle, and anyone who believes they can tame this beast, be it old money cronies, foreign companies, or duplicitous diplomats, simply does not comprehend the true nature of the PPP beast.

All who have had a hand in the PPP’s reign–from the ‘defenders of democracy’ to the lazy members of the opposition of whom we never hear, are complicit, and we must all bear the consequences. The people of Guyana, by allowing this state of affairs to persist, have played a role in shaping the government they now endure. It’s an uncomfortable truth, but it’s one we must face head-on.