Let us be a united force for real change

more, and preferred to pursue agricultural activities for survival. When their demands for humane conditions of employment were not met, the British plantocracy was forced to import indentured labourers from various sources, but all except Indians refused to be held hostage to the exploitative plantation owners; hence the pitting of one exploited race against another for pecuniary interests.

When a Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate the treatment of indentured labourers by the plantation owners, it was freed slaves who testified on behalf of the Indian labourers, and forced concessionary measures that created some degree of alleviation in the ill-treatment that was similar to what had been dealt to the slaves by the colonial elitists.

So, at human levels in our country, descendants of African slaves and Indian indentured labourers have always co-existed in harmony. However, when the oppressive governance of the colonials was threatened by the strident calls of Dr Cheddi Jagan and the PPP for independence, they invoked their ‘divide and rule’ policy, and created rifts in Guyana’s first mass-based political party.

We have never recovered from the ensuing rancorous consequences in our nation, which have been exacerbated and exploited by opportunistic politicians whose only agenda is self-enrichment, self-empowerment and self-aggrandizement. However, the leadership of the PPP/PPPC has never wavered in its commitment to creating a united nation, and today Guyanese are well on the way to becoming “One Guyana” because, finally, we – individually and collectively — currently recognize and accept the reality that, instead of consideration of issues, race-based politics will always leave this nation vulnerable to the exploitative strategies of neo-colonizers who covet our wealth, and who are still using ‘divide and rule’ strategies to conquer us and appropriate our wealth through various strategic measures, but mainly by purchasing the favours of key players in the political divide. We will forever be held hostage to the manipulators of our destiny.

The PPP will always be the people’s party, because the welfare of the people is the genesis on which the Party propelled its struggles to win independence and a democratic culture for this nation, and so PPP/C leaders continue to urge all our people to come aboard with us and let us be a united force for real change in the socio-economic dynamics of this country.

Yours sincerely, Alvin Hamilton

A movement to break the backbone of racism

Dear Editor,

The LGE 2023 campaign conducted by the PPP/C sent a powerful message that politicians must work hard at the grass roots level to win votes. The act of voting is one of the most formidable and inalienable rights accorded to citizens in a democracy. And the exercise of this right should no longer be dependent upon consideration of ideology and race but must, at a minimum level, be based upon immediate ‘bread and butter’ issues.

A smarter electorate has evolved out of the prevailing technological and mass communication age, including social media, that increasingly wants to embrace reason.

Historically, ethnic tensions/conflicts, rivalry, and sometimes violence, had dominated the political landscape, while the salience of issues had been diminished. Despite gallant attempts, previous political leaders had been unable to overcome the divisions resulting from ideology, race, gender, religion, and region.

The current PPP/C leadership believes that they have produced an answer to these gaping problems. After methodical analysis, they have grabbed the concept of a 21st Century Movement (21CTMOV) to transcend barriers of ideology, race, religion, gender, and region. From the 1942 Quit India campaign led by MK Gandhi, they recognize that for a movement to succeed, it requires: (i) transcending boundaries of race, ideology, region, and other differences; (ii) must have a clearly defined objective; (iii) it must have staying power; (iv) it must be led by charismatic leader(s) who also have a track record of accomplishments; and (v) it must revolve around a particular philosophy. A young and energetic leadership recognizes that the importance of traditional approaches to politics had not resulted in demonstrable advance in the quality of living, the narrowing of regional resource disparities, and any significant reduction of poverty. Winning state power is not enough. They believe that they must rise above ideology, race, and other barriers to lift Guyana into the 21st century and provide the good life for every Guyanese. And the vehicle for this transformation is 21CTMOV.

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