VIEWPOINT
By Prem Misir, Ph.D.
A recent TV Commentary likened the PPP/C
Administration to Haiti under ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier.
This Commentary is ill-conceived, and smacks of hype and
incitement to racial hatred. Such a commentary also violates
the fundamental principle of comparability, namely, that
we do not compare two unlike entities. The PPP/C Government
and ‘Papa Doc’s’ Administration in Haiti
are, indeed, different in most respects. The comparison,
therefore, would be invalid and unreliable.
Why the comparison does not hold?
Let’s examine what Haiti was like
under Papa Doc Duvalier’s dictatorship.
* Duvalier’s Haiti was not free, i.e., no political
rights and no civil liberties.
* Duvalier administered Haiti as a dictatorship.
* Duvalier created a Constitution to consolidate his power.
* Duvalier replaced the bicameral legislature with a unicameral
body.
* Duvalier encouraged and promoted the principles and practices
of a one-party state.
* Duvalier violated a 1957 prohibition against Presidential
reelection.
* Duvalier declared himself as President for life in 1964.
* Duvalier’s elite Presidential Guards weakened the
Haitian Army.
* Duvalier further undermined the capacity of the Haitian
Army through a rural militia, popularly known as the ton
makouts.
* Duvalier cemented his rule through terror – about
30,000 Haitians were killed during his watch.
Let’s examine what Guyana
is like under the PPP/C Administration (1992-2002).
* PPP/C’s Guyana is free, i.e., with political rights
and civil liberties, according to the US-based Freedom House
Survey)
* The PPP/C Administration administers Guyana as a parliamentary
democracy.
* The PPP/C Government initiated constitutional reform to
1980 Constitution.
* The PPP/C Government reduced the powers of the Presidency
through constitutional reforms to the 1980 Constitution.
* The PPP/C Government encourages and promotes the principles
and practices of a multi-party state.
* The PPP/C Government established good governance
to Guyana through following:
1. creating a strong macroeconomic environment to facilitate
market and economic growth.
2. Expanding the social services sector to reach all Guyanese.
Keep in mind that in 1992 under the PNC regime, eight (8)
% of the Budget was allocated to social services compared
to 17.2% and eight (8)% of the Budget for Education and
Health in 2002, respectively.
3. Administering free, fair, and transparent National Elections
in1997 and 2001.
4. Holding Local Government election in 1995, given that
it was last administered in 1970.
5. Achieving accountability through the Office of the Auditor-General;
the Government’s accounts are audited annually.
6. Establishing the Integrity Commission.
7. Using the dialog with the Opposition PNC/R to attain
consensus on policy formulation.
8. Utilizing Parliamentary Committees enabling the Opposition
to input the legislative process..
9. Reviewing the demarcation and extension of Amerindian
Lands
The PPP/C’s democratic thrust and
gains will have greater significance if they are stashed
against the status of the PNC’s legacy in 1992.
Again, this recent TV Commentary also alluded
to viewing with suspicion the Guyana Chronicle, one of the
State Media, because it had a different angle from the Stabroek
News with regard to last Sunday’s headlines. The difference
in angle may very well have to do with the Sunday Chronicle
being in possession of quality information. While the Chronicle
is categorized as a State Media entity, it must be made
clear that they do not receive subvention funds from the
Government.
What is rather contemptuous, however, is
the constant implied reference to the PPP/C Government as
an East Indian Government in quite a few of the Commentaries.
It is as if the PPP/C is improperly placed in Government.
The electoral rules of engagement were agreed upon by all
political parties that contested the 2001 national election.
I am not aware that any party fussed about
these rules prior to the 2001 election. Under the current
electoral arrangements, the PPP/C won. Based on these rules,
the PPP/C formed the Government. Since placed in the throes
of governance, however, the Administration has continued
to make considerable attempts to include the Opposition
in inputting the legislative agenda through dialog and the
impending parliamentary committees. The PNC/R has now put
the dialog on hold. Clearly, the dialog has achieved much
with a significant emphasis on inclusiveness in policy development.
The incitement to racial hatred law may have some implications
for some aspects of the content of this recent TV Commentary.
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