Skip to main content

FM
Former Member

Deconstructing the Opposition’s agenda – Part 1

 

An agenda devoid of interest for country and people

 

TO say that the Opposition’s agenda in Guyana is to oppose, would be giving it much undeserved credit. If it were simply a case of opposing, then it may not be too unfair to posit that the current political situation could have been different. Of course, that’s being optimistic. That aside, generally, opposing government’s polices and programmes to be implemented is considered routine for Oppositions, but then all Oppositions are not the same.

 

Life generally gives us opposites; night and day, etc. Being in the Opposition is no different. There are those who oppose objectively and put country and people’s welfare first. In these cases, wranglings tend to cease when issues of national importance and development arise. Then, of course, there are those who oppose for the sake of just doing so without concern for country and people. They rigidly box themselves in to stay true to their title.

 

However, in fairness to the latter, in some cases, it has not been indisposed to demonstrating traits of the former. In other words it can rise above partisanship. By this brief classification, it simply means that Opposition Parties in general can divorce themselves from being partisan and rise, whenever the occasion beckons, to demonstrate a sense of profound patriotism. Also by this said brief classification, it begs the question, to which category Guyana’s Opposition belongs.

 

Before venturing into the realm of related classification, it would be more than useful to try and achieve some semblance of understanding, even though tedious, of the Opposition’s agenda. To try and grasp this, it would become necessary to deconstruct the agenda. Clearly, this first installment of this ‘Deconstructing the Opposition’s agenda’ series would be woefully inadequate to comprehend the underpinnings of this deconstruction. First and foremost, the Opposition has to be judged on its public pronouncements and actions.

 

During the life of the tenth Parliament, in which the combined Opposition held a one-seat majority, it failed miserably to foster any semblance of interest for nation and people. This blatant demonstration of such non-interest and which has been thoroughly articulated and debated in the public domain, remained the hallmark.

 

The refusal to support major transformative projects like the Amaila Hydro, the Specialty Hospital and the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport along with scuttling the Anti-Money Launder bill, was counterproductive to the welfare of the nation and its people, and that’s putting it mildly. Many questions were, and still being asked; why would an Opposition that advocates for a better country, callously deny the people the benefits from these projects and put them at risk of the consequences of the non-passage of the Anti-Money Laundering bill?

 

Despite which generation one belongs to, these projects would have propelled the country’s modernisation trajectory onwards to a developed nation, thereby securing a brighter future for all; the operative word being all!

 

Their supporters would have benefited too! Many, if not all, have deemed the Opposition’s actions as irresponsible in an insatiable appetite for power with no regard for people’s welfare. This hunger for power is the heart of their agenda and with every “heartbeat” being a sound of desperation.

 

Young people should note that this desperation for power by the Opposition at the expense of people and country, while glaringly obvious to them following the 2011 general elections, has always been a characteristic. History will so vindicate. It is with this history and their actions over the past three years, well history too, which need to be further deconstructed to reveal the real face of the Opposition. For many, such deconstruction may not be necessary for they have seen through the mask. Others may have a difficulty in even noticing the mask.

 

This series is geared at just that; removing the mask. That aside, coming back to categorizing Guyana’s Opposition, based on what was mentioned and the known facts, it would be highly improbable, to the point of being impossible, to place it within any of the two groups noted above. That makes Guyana unique in this regard; its Opposition is in a category all by itself. More on the agenda in subsequent installments.

 

By Teayken A. Dhigg

Young people should note that this desperation for power by the Opposition at the expense of people and country, while glaringly obvious to them following the 2011 general elections, has always been a characteristic. History will so vindicate.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Deconstructing the Opposition’s agenda (Part 2) … Offerings of emptiness

IF THE previous instalment were to be perused, it would not be challenging to conclude that the current Opposition is wallowing in “no” politics. This of course is derived from their adamant, (arrogant seems more apt), and inflexible position of plating a resounding “NO” to the many visionary and transformative projects tabled in the 10th Parliament. This precipitated high levels of uncertainty and some amount of stagnation within the business community.This, given the actions of the Opposition during that period, can only be viewed as their desired result, again, the politics of “no”; no progress; at least the intention. Clearly the ruling PPP/C Administration never contemplated allowing the Opposition to derail the strides achieved under its watch. This approach mitigated the Opposition’s actions through a track record of nine years of unprecedented and continuous economic growth.

 

Simply put, the Opposition’s agenda is to regress progress which would result in economic ruin; something to which they are extremely comfortable with. A brief perusal of the nation’s history during their tenure would reveal a profound state of bankruptcy, despondency with the collapse of the social and physical infrastructure. This has how been deemed an old cliché which the Opposition wishes to be erased from those with authentic memories. Unfortunately for them, those memories remain fresh.

 

This desire to try and erase memories is what engineered the changing of a name, from PNC to APNU, with the hope that the absence of the Palm Tree symbol would not bring to bear any physiological disadvantage to some voters. This was targeted at the youth with the optimism that those who endured the PNC’s dictatorship would just forget. Clearly, that needs no justification to be classified as wishful thinking.

 

After having the country descend into economic ruin following some three decades of misrule, part of the Opposition’s agenda is to hoodwink into making people believe that they are the bastions of transparency, democracy and a proven authority on economic management. Their expectation would be for the concealment of the history during their domination in office, but if there were any doubts, their actions over the last three years served to expose, and enlighten and re-enlighten.

 

Getting back to the Opposition’s actual agenda, one notion is that their non-support for the transformative projects is hinged on their belief that related successes would further vindicate the visionary aptitude of the PPP/C Government. This, they believe, would be detrimental to their chances since they would be unable to convince their supporters that the PPP/C is incapable. For some, this approach may sound a bit ludicrous, but in reality, it’s far from so, for nothing is beyond this Opposition.

 

If one harboured any doubts in this regard, then try rationalising the Opposition’s action of scuttling the transformative projects. Some old questions swiftly resurface in this regard; why would a Party that claims to have the well-being of the nation and its people at heart, would work assiduously to deny them benefits like cheaper and reliable electricity supply, access to modern and specialised healthcare and having the country becoming a major hub for international travel?

 

Logically, there could not be any rationalisation in that regard. However, any attempt would reveal unequivocally, the Opposition’s seemingly diabolic agenda which is encrusted with political partisanship. Simply put, it’s an agenda of emptiness that brings doom to a now prosperous nation. This, unfortunately, has become another local cliché.

 

(By Teayken A. Dhigg)

FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×