Bharrat Jagdeo is the jumbie of the PPP political campaign

DEAR EDITOR, In this election campaign, we sincerely hope that the electorate has learned a lesson of the PPP dirty politics and its empty and unfilled campaign promises to the people from previous elections, and both Jagdeo and Ramotar continue to make more empty promises to their gullible supporters. Many citizens, including some PPP supporters, had thought that the selection of a female, Ms. Elisabeth Harper, as the PPP Prime Ministerial candidate, would have brought about the desired changes needed to put the party back on the right path. Those sensible members of the population must by now realize that since her appointment almost two months ago, the PPP has taken one step forward and two steps backwards and is back to square one with the vulgarity, abuse, threats and denigration of women. Generally speaking, Ms. Harper has made very little difference to what goes on in the PPP with regard to it having a decent campaign and put an end to its dirty and race bait politics, degrading of women, and lack of accountability for public money. Nothing has changed. In fact, some aspects of the PPP campaign have become worse and as the election enters its final two weeks, propaganda, lies, distortions, character assassination and race-bait politics by Jagdeo have increased at a galloping pace. Jagdeo is now lying lower in the gutter viciously attacking Granger, Nagamootoo and the military. Ramotar has remained stagnant and out of place and, despite some silly remarks from Clement Rohee, the degrading of women and cuss-down race bait politics which are on the increase in the PPP camp have reached new heights and Ms. Harper cannot change that. In fact, she is being muzzled and is not allowed to debate or even speak on some issues. She is only allowed to speak on women and children issues. This is not anything new and should not come as surprise to anyone because that is how the PPP has always treated women. Jagdeo’s remarks at the PPP rally in Stewartville that the leaders of APNU cannot be trusted with the country’s financial assets, especially its US$700 million foreign reserves is fear mongering. Lest we forget, it is under Jagdeo that the most severe and deliberate theft of the country’s money occurred in all spheres. There has been rampant corruption, kick-backs from contractors, lack of accountability and transparency in governance, contempt for the people and the constitution and extra-judicial murders in Guyana. Jagdeo is responsible for the dark clouds hanging over the poor and the working class, and they will not be lifted if the PPP is re-elected to office. And to make matters worse, it is Jagdeo who indebted the nation with the US$208 million white elephant Skeldon Sugar factory, a semi-completed Hope Canal project which cost the taxpayers an arm and a leg, missing public monies and dilapidated infrastructure in need of serious and urgent repair. Finally, under Jagdeo, health care, education, social welfare, electricity and provision of potable drinking water have declined. Simply put, Jagdeo is the jumbie of the PPP political campaign. The current PPP minority Government is corrupt and devoid of any economic strategies to develop the economy. They have marginalized a large section of the population, used the country’s resources to benefit themselves, relatives and friends and have distributed homes to relatives, friends and supporters of the party. In this election, the electorate must stop electing leaders along racial lines or according to how rich they are. Voters must pay more attention to the PPP’s inept policies, corrupt practices, empty promises, lies, propaganda, immorality and lack of compassion for the poor. But if the people fail to change their way of thinking and method of selecting future governments they will not only be doomed and condemned to a dismal future, but they will also end up having more of the same from the PPP for decades to come. It’s time for change! Dr. Asquith Rose Chandra Deolall Dr. Merle Spencer-Marks