Dear Editor,

The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) has sounded the alarm bells after the preliminary census results were announced. Their fear stems from the possibility that the East Indian population has fallen below 40%. It should be noted that when the PPP won the election in 1992, East Indians made up 50% of the population. For those who might not be aware, the IAC was engineered by the PPP for the purpose of taking on Ms Ryhaan Shah’s GIHA. It was believed that Ms Ryhaan Shah could not be controlled and perhaps she was even too close politically to Mr Ravi Dev.

Times have changed, however. Mr Dev is now the guardian of Guyana Times, which itself was engineered by Mr Bharrat Jagdeo. Mr Dev guards the hegemony of the Newly Emerging Private Sector (NEPS) – many newly rich East Indians – through the pages of Guyana Times. On the other hand, the IAC believes there has to be change in the governance model utilised by the PPP, thus promoting the public good instead of the interests of a few rich persons. They were not specific as to the shape and form of this model of power-sharing. It is a pity it took the census result to shake the IAC out of its complacency. It would have been much better if the IAC had called for these progressive steps long ago to demonstrate enlightenment and unity for progress. As they say, better late than never.

The IAC has no shortage of financial resources given its connections in the Indian diaspora. Therefore, we urge the IAC to take a lead in the discussion on governance and fairness in the distribution of Guyana’s economic opportunities and resources. The IAC should convene urgently a series of meetings and a conference on possible governance models. The IAC must pressure the PPP into enlightenment.

While the IAC has mentioned power-sharing, the scholarly literature shows that the stability of formal power-sharing arrangements are much more complicated than is often discussed in the letter columns. Power-sharing can take many forms and perhaps we are all over thinking this power-sharing thing. Perhaps we just need to change the constitution to allow for diminishing the power of the president. Perhaps there is need for electoral reform where some members of Parliament can be directly elected by a constituency. Local government elections will allow for devolving power to the localities. That’s power-sharing too. The IAC must pressure the PPP to assent to the fourth local government bill that prevents the Minister of Local Government from exercising his authority over the elected local body.

The IAC could also call on the government to take steps to create a modern and professionalised police force and public service. The IAC must call out the PPP on the abuse of the taxpayer funded Chronicle and NCN. A public procurement body could also go a long way; so too would be a financial intelligence unit that is not manipulated like the auditor general’s office. Perhaps all that is needed is to improve on what we already have instead of over thinking power-sharing, which risks promoting elite accommodation that is no guarantee for good governance. Promoting credible institutions, an improved constitution, a meritocratic public service and a professional police service will improve governance and the lives of all Guyanese. Over to the IAC!

Yours faithfully,

Tarron Khemraj

Gerhard Ramsaroop