PPP and the Politics of Fear.
Written by realTalk
Sunday, 09 October 2011 12:24
It seems as if the politics of fear is once again at the forefront of public political life in Guyana as the next general election looms. More importantly it also appears as if one particular party, the PPP to be precise, has totally refined its ability to manufacture and manipulate fear in ingenious ways it believes can galvanize support among its mainly East Indians supporters. The present-day politics of fear in Guyana is not a recent phenomenon; it draws on a long history of racism and fear. This practice has been in existence for over 50 years, and sadly in these contemporary times it is still being employed.
Politicians from the PPP seem to possess only the innate ability to conjure up old scary tales from an era long gone and rework them in ways that produce fear from their supporters. It also appears that as long as the PPP cannot agree with an opposition’s position or find themselves in direct competition with formidable opponents of integrity, they must resort to making monsters out these individuals to scare support out of their constituents. This was clearly seen when the PNC elected the extremely qualified and highly respected David Granger to be its presidential candidate.
The politics of fear ensured that no effort would be made at establishing the real political weaknesses of Mr. Granger and comparing him in contrast to Mr. Ramotar. The first thing the PPP sought to do was to find a scary tale of murder, mayhem and allegations of brutality and place Mr. Granger at the center of it all. That for the PPP, apparently, was the most suitable way to ensure their “supporters” remember sometime 35 years ago when Guyana was in a darkening state.
The politics of fear has ensured that the presidential candidate of the AFC, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, is labeled as a traitor of sorts who apparently betrayed some higher PPP cause. Today sugar workers are being told of all kinds of evil things that the AFC apparently has in store for the sugar industry should they win the elections; all in an effort to galvanize support. Therefore, instead of convincingly analyzing the AFC’s position on a number of key issues and highlighting the PPP’s best practice approach to these very issues, PPP politicians are seemingly willing to lie and fabricate scenarios to scare their listeners into supporting them.
The suspension of CNS TV6 is by no means a coincidence that happens to occur during this highly charged political atmosphere. Whatever spurious excuse the president is offering in his overkill in dealing with that media house must be viewed as nothing less than an assault on press freedom in Guyana. It is no secret that the state owned media operates in the sole interest of the PPP and the government. There is no equal access to the state media for voices not aligned to the PPP government’s political ideologies. CNS TV6 is the main audio-visual outlet that opposition parties utilise to reach the electorate.
Government intimidation has the ability to generate a number of situational states, fear being one. In this highly politically charged time mere weeks away from the general elections, shutting down CNS TV6 can well spark fierce protests by opposition supporters and likely generate fear among the many PPP constituents who might have begun to be sympathetic towards the opposition. Are Guyanese to expect more strategic clandestine actions from the government at goading the opposition into loud ugly protest actions?
Guyanese especially the PPP constituents must reject the politics of fear. The time for political change is here, and Guyanese at home and abroad know it. The PPP know it!
Especially Indo-Guyanese, must stop this oppressive fear that is fed to them during election periods that have them seeking refuge in a false conformity to the PPP. The “them and us” disease that has sickened Guyanese society for half a century must be eradicated. Franklin Roosevelt wisely posited to the American people in his Inaugural Address during the Great Depression: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Fear creates vibrations that are paralyzing. To dispel fear and develop the courage to speak up, Guyanese have to be able to critically analyse at the patterns of thinking that feed fear.
If large sections of the Guyanese society are voting out of deep paranoia and fear, it severely hampers the discovery of fresh solutions to the problems of corruption, incompetent governance, crime, poverty and economic security, viability and stability. If the PPP is voted back into office, it would therefore mean that Guyana and Guyanese will not progress. This is clearly a turning point in Guyanese history. Guyanese need, more than ever, to hear the wisdom of the many voices in the opposition, and vote for change. But first Guyanese must break through the cloud of fear and suppression that has now blanketed the nation, so that they can think more clearly and discover their ability to vote on issues rather than race. Guyanese must vote for the party with the best skills and policies to bring about a brighter future to the country instead of voting for one party out of fear for the other.
Written by realTalk
Sunday, 09 October 2011 12:24
It seems as if the politics of fear is once again at the forefront of public political life in Guyana as the next general election looms. More importantly it also appears as if one particular party, the PPP to be precise, has totally refined its ability to manufacture and manipulate fear in ingenious ways it believes can galvanize support among its mainly East Indians supporters. The present-day politics of fear in Guyana is not a recent phenomenon; it draws on a long history of racism and fear. This practice has been in existence for over 50 years, and sadly in these contemporary times it is still being employed.
Politicians from the PPP seem to possess only the innate ability to conjure up old scary tales from an era long gone and rework them in ways that produce fear from their supporters. It also appears that as long as the PPP cannot agree with an opposition’s position or find themselves in direct competition with formidable opponents of integrity, they must resort to making monsters out these individuals to scare support out of their constituents. This was clearly seen when the PNC elected the extremely qualified and highly respected David Granger to be its presidential candidate.
The politics of fear ensured that no effort would be made at establishing the real political weaknesses of Mr. Granger and comparing him in contrast to Mr. Ramotar. The first thing the PPP sought to do was to find a scary tale of murder, mayhem and allegations of brutality and place Mr. Granger at the center of it all. That for the PPP, apparently, was the most suitable way to ensure their “supporters” remember sometime 35 years ago when Guyana was in a darkening state.
The politics of fear has ensured that the presidential candidate of the AFC, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, is labeled as a traitor of sorts who apparently betrayed some higher PPP cause. Today sugar workers are being told of all kinds of evil things that the AFC apparently has in store for the sugar industry should they win the elections; all in an effort to galvanize support. Therefore, instead of convincingly analyzing the AFC’s position on a number of key issues and highlighting the PPP’s best practice approach to these very issues, PPP politicians are seemingly willing to lie and fabricate scenarios to scare their listeners into supporting them.
The suspension of CNS TV6 is by no means a coincidence that happens to occur during this highly charged political atmosphere. Whatever spurious excuse the president is offering in his overkill in dealing with that media house must be viewed as nothing less than an assault on press freedom in Guyana. It is no secret that the state owned media operates in the sole interest of the PPP and the government. There is no equal access to the state media for voices not aligned to the PPP government’s political ideologies. CNS TV6 is the main audio-visual outlet that opposition parties utilise to reach the electorate.
Government intimidation has the ability to generate a number of situational states, fear being one. In this highly politically charged time mere weeks away from the general elections, shutting down CNS TV6 can well spark fierce protests by opposition supporters and likely generate fear among the many PPP constituents who might have begun to be sympathetic towards the opposition. Are Guyanese to expect more strategic clandestine actions from the government at goading the opposition into loud ugly protest actions?
Guyanese especially the PPP constituents must reject the politics of fear. The time for political change is here, and Guyanese at home and abroad know it. The PPP know it!
Especially Indo-Guyanese, must stop this oppressive fear that is fed to them during election periods that have them seeking refuge in a false conformity to the PPP. The “them and us” disease that has sickened Guyanese society for half a century must be eradicated. Franklin Roosevelt wisely posited to the American people in his Inaugural Address during the Great Depression: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Fear creates vibrations that are paralyzing. To dispel fear and develop the courage to speak up, Guyanese have to be able to critically analyse at the patterns of thinking that feed fear.
If large sections of the Guyanese society are voting out of deep paranoia and fear, it severely hampers the discovery of fresh solutions to the problems of corruption, incompetent governance, crime, poverty and economic security, viability and stability. If the PPP is voted back into office, it would therefore mean that Guyana and Guyanese will not progress. This is clearly a turning point in Guyanese history. Guyanese need, more than ever, to hear the wisdom of the many voices in the opposition, and vote for change. But first Guyanese must break through the cloud of fear and suppression that has now blanketed the nation, so that they can think more clearly and discover their ability to vote on issues rather than race. Guyanese must vote for the party with the best skills and policies to bring about a brighter future to the country instead of voting for one party out of fear for the other.