During the past year, in my brief sojourn into the field of journalism, I discussed the attitude of Caribbean leaders to threats to democracy. I will reproduce a part of an earlier contribution.

“Although not on the same scale but a similar story of violence against citizens occurred in Guyana during the reign of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham which lasted for the period of 1964 to 1985. Burnham started his stewardship of Guyana in the aftermath of the Wismar Massacre of May 26, 1964, which was a prelude of things to come. According to the Report of the Wismar, Christianburg and Mackenzie Commission, the conclusion was that the disturbances which took place in the Wismar-Christianburg-Mackenzie area on May 25th, 1964, were politically and racially inspired. According to Ryhaan Shah, The Guyana Times, The Wismar Massacre (May 21, 2017) in a review of the Commission Report, ““The majority of the Africans laughed and jeered at the East Indians as, blood stained and battered, raped and naked, shocked and destitute, they helplessly went their way to the only place of refuge, the Wismar Police Station.

African women played their part in these events to the fullest extent. “Your Commissioners are convinced that ‘this was a diabolical plot, ingeniously planned and ruthlessly executed.’ … “On the day of the disturbances at Wismar-Christianburg, there were 57 cases of assault, including rape. Two persons were killed, and at least 197 houses were destroyed in addition to several cases of looting.” The attack on those of East Indian descent was a harbinger for the rule of Burnham as he unleashed his brand of purported socialism for just over two decades and for which undeniably those of East Indian descent bore the brunt of the excesses of the State. “From 1964 to 1992 when the PPP came to power, the Guyanese Indians ran away from PNC domination settling in far off countries around the world. The groups that stayed preached a continuous sermon of denunciations against racial discrimination, political control and dictatorship” (Freddie Kissoon, East Indians in Guyana 1964-2013, Kaiteur News (May 06, 2013). Again, the political leaders of the Caribbean were silent. Why may we ask?”.

Today, the rape of democracy is emerging in Guyana. The modern manifestation of the People’s National Congress in the form of the Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (AN- PU-AFC) is frightening. The power seeking tools of Burnham would appear embedded in the political DNA of the ANPU-AFC. Its successor in everything but name. Foreign observers and representatives from the Carter Centre, United States of America, Canada, the Organisation of American States and the European Union are uniformly condemning the electoral farce that is emerging. Yet, the eminent foreign policy commentators and political leaders from Caribbean countries have experienced an outbreak of laryngitis (not COVID-19 “the coronavirus”). Fortunately, social media is exposing the butchery of democracy and the hypocrisy of Caribbean leaders. Of course, it will be justified on the grounds of respect for sovereignty.

Is the silence of Trinidad and Tobago based on the hope that we will somehow benefit from the largesse of the oil boom in Guyana? Is the silence of other Caribbean leaders based on the dream of a Guyana Petro Caribe to replace the Venezuelan version that has long crumbled in the face of the self-destruction perpetuated by Maduro? The belated statement by Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, the face of modern Caribbeanism, with her strong stance on global issues, is at best a lukewarm denunciation of the naked grab for power in Guyana.

Indeed, one can easily recall her strident chastisement of Jamaica and a few other Caribbean countries for meeting the US Secretary of State. Ms. Mottley emphasised unity and rejected attempts to divide the Caribbean region. Where is that passion for democracy now? Are you not concerned by roving bands of cutlass wielding persons seeking to capture democracy by sowing seeds of fear? It would be a sad day if the inference to be drawn, is a tacit abhorrence of the prospect of an Indo-descended dominated government in Guyana. This is not about race. This is about democracy.

This is about freedom of political choice. This is about human decency. This is about civilisation.

This is about the rule of law.

If, after decades of independence, our institutions cannot survive peaceful political transformation, we are doomed to a future of turmoil and self-implosion. Guyana today is a living testimony that the soul of the Caribbean is tainted and lacking in honour.

Professor Rajendra Ramlogan, Commercial and Environmental Law, The University of the West Indies. The views expressed are entirely his own.

Today, the rape of democracy is emerging in Guyana. The modern manifestation of the People’s National Congress in the form of the Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (ANPU- AFC) is frightening.

The power-seeking tools of Burnham would appear embedded in the political DNA of the ANPU-AFC.

Its successor in everything but name.

Dr Rajendra Ramlogan