You see, this is what I respect, Guyana has all races and they need to be recognized. What ever the people choose is democracy.

No victimization and intimidation. 

Uh Oh and no one there cussin him or Forbes? oh no say it aint so...........

Say it aint so...........It seems like is only Ramotar dem people does harass all over de place........

No cuss down, friend. Young people and Amerindians will tip the scale against the PPP.

The young have no beef with Forbes.

Guyana's history is rife with those in power having a upper hand on everyone else. Not surprising that the PPP are behaving that way right now. Wouldn't be surprised that another party in place of the PPP will do the same. In fact, I am confident that they will. Not much has changed politically in Guyana over the past 50+ years.

Kszama was the PPP doing that when they were elected in 92 to 98? when exactly can we say the PPP outright begun violating the rights of citizens?

I am not convinced with your statements. I think we the people of Guyana are guilty of allowing the PPP to execute this abuse and blatant violence against our people and the time has come to stop it.

This argument that another government will behave the same way is not an a valid argument.

Guyana is and has been for a long time a dog eat dog world. Those with money and power sadly lack compassion and fairness. They use their money and power to exert their will on everyone else. I know some people down there who are richer than God but I wouldn't brag about how they treat others. That is not a PPP/PNC/AFC thing. That is a Guyanese thing.

HMR, they started when they became powerful. Back in 1992, there was no power until the PNC mess was cleaned up. The same case can be made for Forbsie. He only became abusive when he really became powerful. Likewise, irrespective of your notable objection, I still maintain that another party in power will do the same once that power is asserted. The same Guyanese trend exist. That does not mean that I am averse to a ruling party different from the PPP. That is the rightful choice of the Guyanese people. I don't have that right anymore, I gave it up back in the '80s.

Kszama there are 2 things at play here. There is no mess the PPP cleaned up those were unacceptable excuses many bought into. The PPP co-opted the worst of the PNC and incorporated them into the highest levels of the PPP what exactly did they clean up? - that is a myth.

The PPP specifically Jagan embraced the Burnham constitution which is the root of all evil and it is that constitution that grants these officials the authority to commit crimes and not face prosecution.

The other key issue at hand is that we allowed the PPP to be in office for too long. 10 or even 15 years and they should have been given the boot.

If any new government gets into office PNC or AFC they should not be there longer than 10 - 15 years. PERIOD.

The Constitution needs to be rewritten completely.

I do agree that the Constitution needs to be rewritten. Guyana needs a constitution which provides for the governance of everyone not only the favored few. A true House of representative is desperately needed.

I don't know why you think there was no PNC mess cleaned up by the early PPP government. I left in 1987 and visited in between Christmas 1987 & late January 1988. I again visited in December 1988 to late February 1989 and then again in August 1992, June 1994 & April 1998. My experiences during those visits are very different from what you are suggested. I haven't been back to Guyana since my visit in 1998 and have no desire nor intention to do so anytime soon. I have sent my money there instead although I have no idea who got it since it went for charity. 

Maybe I am wrong, but I would sure love for someone to tell me what things the PPP have cleaned up since 1992?

The PPP freed all of the criminals imprisoned by Hoyte and brought them into the highest levels of government at Freedom House. Cheddie and Janet embraced Hamilton Green post 92 remember that?

Again I would love for someone to tell me what exactly the PPP cleaned up? Was it Laurie Lewis who they got rid of? no that can't be so what exactly did they clean up? Did they clean up or create their own treachery?

Excellent letter on the same topic we are discussing....

Incompetent and corrupt leadership has stifled Guyana’s development

DEAR EDITOR,
In 1992, when the PPP led by Cheddi Jagan defeated the PNC and formed the government, the hopes and aspirations of most Guyanese were that Guyana, with its abundance of natural resources and once considered the bread basket of the Caribbean, would mature into a fully functional and economically developed State that promotes the well-being of all its citizenry and becomes a symbol of hope to the people in the region.
The year 2015 is here and with it comes the reflection that has accompanied each new year. As we reflected on the sad state of affairs in Guyana, it became evident that the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime which came to power in 1999 has cheated the people and robbed Guyana of its development and its natural and financial resources. They have served the people poorly.
However, after 22 years of PPP rule, Guyana’s development can be aptly personified as that of a child experiencing delayed puberty, and those in the regime should be held accountable for the role they have played in stifling Guyana’s dream, and for having used its resources to benefit themselves, relatives and friends.
When one does a comparative study with other Caribbean island nations that embarked on the noble ideal of self-government, as did Guyana, one cannot help but weep when one sees the advancement that has taken place in most of those countries and the backwardness evident in Guyana.
Take for example Barbados. Barbados became an independent state in 1966, the same year as Guyana. Since that time, the leaders of Barbados have worked tirelessly and sacrificed much for the advancement of social and human development of the Barbadian people. Unlike the PPP cabal, they were not selfish and greedy and did not seek to tribalize their citizens for political expediency or covet the country’s resources. In fact, the leaders of Barbados looked at the long-term goal of building a nation by investing heavily in economic and human development ventures and infrastructure. They did not raid the treasury and put their financial interests ahead of those of the people.
Today Barbados is the 51st richest country in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product per capita, has a well-developed mixed economy, and a moderately high standard of living. It is ranked second in the Americas (after Canada) and 16th globally on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.  Whereas, Guyana is the second poorest country in the region after Haiti and is the second most corrupt country in the Caribbean after Haiti and is ranked 137 out of 175 countries on that index. Barbados has a very strong dollar ($1 Barbadian equals US$0.50), literacy rate is ranked close to 100 per cent as formal education at all levels is freely available to all, its public hospitals are first rated and health coverage is universal.  Its roads are free of potholes, blackouts and water shortages are scarce and corruption and crime are at a minimum level. Its prime minister does not make rude and nasty remarks to the people and its ministers do not cuss-down diplomats or use violent threats against the media.
To complement that achievement, in 2010 the United Nations Human Development Index placed Barbados among the world’s developed countries after measuring its performance in areas of health, education, income, and other quality of life indices. These advancements did not come about because of wishful thinking, but by its leaders putting the country and people first and above party and politics.
So what has happened to the Guyana dream? Guyana could have achieved the same level of greatness and economic success as Barbados if it had progressive thinking, intellectual and non-corrupt political leadership. Guyana has a regime that is crooked, vindictive and has divided the country and people along racial lines, oblivious of the reality that a divided country can never achieve economic and human development.
Why is it that the interests of those in the PPP regime always supersede the interests of the country and the people? Why has the regime not done anything substantial to reduce corruption and crime and to improve the living standards?
We are aware that politics has always played a very important role in any society, and there is a time and place when one needs to support the political party to which his/her interest is aligned. But the PPP always seems to put its narrow partisan interests above the well-being of the state and the people, even though the people are faced with so many crises, such as economic hardship, poverty, high unemployment, a failing health care and collapsing educational system, and criminal acts akin to terrorism.
Since independence, Barbados has managed to achieve a very high level of national life. Thus, irrespective of who or which party forms the government, there is a framework to follow. Guyana has no such framework, because the incompetent and unqualified PPP political hacks are not interested in nation-building. They are only interested in fattening their pockets with the taxpayers’ money.
Guyanese have become a threatened species under the PPP regime. They are not threatened by external forces, but by criminals, corruption, job insecurity, poverty, homelessness, incompetent and selfish PPP politicians, years of social and fiscal mismanagement, a devalued currency — that can only be characterized as Monopoly money — and by a covetous cabal who only provide for themselves and friends instead of the populace. If truth be told, Guyana has become a difficult and a dangerous place to live.
For 2015, what Guyana needs is a government that will put national and human development above party politics; not afraid to tackle corruption and crime, irrespective of the cost to self and party. A government with selfless and competent leaders who in their innermost souls, are honest. Leaders who are true to duty, country, and the advancement of the well-being of all the people. Leaders who are moral and will stand up for honesty, justice and freedom of the press, respect for the people and the constitution. Leaders who are not corrupt and will not take bribe, and who are willing to sacrifice political expediency for the good of the country and the people.
Only then can Guyana become like Barbados, the prosperous country we all want and love to see it become. But a change of regime is needed for this to happen.
Asquith Rose,
Chandra Deolall
Dr. Merle Spenser-Marks

I understand what you're saying.

But, ksazma, let's bring back an old Obama phrase: THE AUDACITY OF HOPE.

You remember that? Well, whatever has been a "Guyanese thing", for however long, doesn't have to be so in perpetuity.

Change is necessary and change will come, however long it takes.

Each of us who recognizes the "dog eat dog" culture in Guyana can apply these words Mahatma Gandhi uttered: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

And believe in the audacity of hope.

Indeed. The most constant thing is change. To improve should always be our goal and drive. While I recognize that and hope for a change, I can't ignore what has always been our trend and still is.

We can only blame ourselves for that trend Kszama. The people of Guyana are suffering while many of the PPP stooges who are living the life in America and Canada continue to stick their heads in the sand and try to justify the PPP's treachery.

I believe that you are looking at what was then and what is now and seeing no change. However you have to break down the time into segments to see where the change took place. The PPP now isn't even the same PPP that was when Jagdeo first took office. And yes, there was improvements when the PPP first took office. I remember people telling me when I visited in 1994 that the government had tightened up corruption and they cannot pull the same 'lines' they did before the 1992 elections.

I will admit right now that I really don't care much to materially participate in any of the necessary improvements in Guyana. Therefore I will fit into your classification above albeit I am not a PPP stooge since I don't care for that party any more than I do the others. I give to the people when I can and just comment about Guyana from afar. 

I wish yuji can take note of this civil and respectful exchange between HM_Redux and Ksazma.

Differences of opinion shouldn't call for words like "scum", "cockroaches", "exterminate" etc.

I salute you guys today.