On October 5, marks 20 unbroken years of the PPP in government. It was heralded as the “dawn of a new era”. Today, after 20 years in office, the PPP has lost its way. The “new era” promise has been betrayed, and working people have lost faith and hope in the PPP. It is divided and weak and, under its present Jagdeoite leadership, it can no longer by itself guarantee Guyana good, stable and effective governance. I was a Minister of that first 1992 government, and I was to serve in that capacity under four presidents, until 2000. I still feel the excitement and expectations of the early years, when we earnestly worked to re-build our Guyana. The Cheddi Jagan presidency was the golden gem of “lean and clean” in governance. It was short-lived. Whilst the formal political democracy for which we had fought relentlessly, was to survive, the frugal and honest government of Cheddi Jagan died with him. One year ago this month, I resigned from the PPP and joined the Alliance for Change. Since then, the PPP has lost significant ground and has been reduced to a minority, now masquerading as government. The primary cause of its demise has been under-performance, inefficiency and unchecked corruption. The AFC recognizes that much of what is positive over the years has been lost in the frenzy over political control and domination. The Jagdeo years would perhaps stand out as Guyana's disgraced era of political vulgarity, lawlessness and corruption, which is caricatured in the “Pradoville” culture of greed and sleaze. The country had sadly plunged into a “cuss-down mode”, from which it never recovered. Remember when journalists were seen as “vultures and carrion crows”; and those who could not toe the line were deemed “ignoramuses”? Twenty years ago, people voted for change in how government did business. They wanted a government that would make sure that they get benefits for their hard work and from their taxes. They voted for cheaper foodstuff and transportation, decent housing and health care, water they could safely drink from their taps, education that ensures job opportunities. They voted for paying jobs and a living pension. The change they wanted was to show, in the words of the Song of Guyana's Children: “what Guyana's sons and daughters can be.” But the story of development has been lost in the narrative of corruption. There is no parallel in Guyana's history for the vulgar descent into corrupt practices as that unfolding under the PPP's watch. The inheritors have put Cheddi Jagan and his crop of selfless fighters to shame. These inheritors have become a get-rich-quick elite that has forged an incestuous relationship with rags-to-riches tycoons. They and their cronies swindle billions of dollars on scams and schemes whether in fake and failed construction projects; accounts hidden from the Treasury; super salaries for sinecure employment together with “fat cat” pensions, perks and privileges; rigged contracts for computers, drugs, pirated textbooks, etc. The AFC is convinced that after 20 years, corruption has ensnared the police, party and presidency. Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, the long-standing PPP leader and former Speaker of the National Assembly, in June this year, described corruption in Guyana as “pervasive”. He was forced to resign from the PPP. Last month, on September 15, 2012 Dr. Cheddi Jagan Jr., (Joey), who was a parliamentary candidate for PPP in last year's elections, expressed revulsion against the so-called president pension package of $3,000,000.00 monthly, which he dubbed “the sweepstakes package”. Son of Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Joey was mad that party members remained mum on the issue. He stated: “All the apologists for the retirement package of Mr. Jagdeo in the PPP… show us, the regular citizens of this country, that they really don't care about the working people of Guyana and they think that we are like them, living with wool pulled over our eyes and with hearts made of stone”. Say what you want about him, Joey is candid and honest, so much so that he took a broader swipe at corruption and waste, when he asked: “Where's our money for the road Fip Motilall never built? What about the sugar factory at Skeldon which doesn't work?” Earlier in the year, there was a furor in the PPP camp when the other Jagans' child, Nadira Jagan-Brancier, declared:

“My parents were probably the most incorruptible people you would ever find; their honesty and integrity were of very high standards, but unfortunately do not exist or I don't see it in many of the leaders of the party and government. “I think the party has moved away - not the party but certain elements in the party - from these very, very important values that held the party together … and so for me, when I look at some of the things happening, my parents must be turning in their graves - churning up in the waters of the rivers in which their ashes were sprinkled.”

After 20 years, the social fabric of our society is disintegrating, as there seems to be no effective safety net for the poor and vulnerable. Daily we witness the rapid descent into utter depravity in proliferation of gruesome and mindless murders, child pregnancies, unchecked assaults on our women, etc. Whilst it is not easy to lay blame, it is time to hold those who run the society accountable. This is, after all, a social security and law and order issue. We have to hold them accountable for the near financial collapse of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) in which tens of thousands of contributors invested and are now pushed to the edge of uncertainty. We must bring Government to account for the $5,000,000,000.00 NIS money that they recklessly placed in CLICO, which went belly up. In its 20th year in government, the PPP has presented us with a catalogue of corruption in almost every aspect of the country's life, resulting in:

o significant drugs trafficking - cocaine in wood, daal puri, pepper sauce, glue and, now, hair swirls.

o customs duties evasion and smuggling - from the Polar Beer Scam to the Police Jet Boat scam.

o money laundering. o trafficking in persons.

o mis-use of states resources to bail out failed corporations, pay party activists, reward docile newspapers and prepare Pradoville-type land for elite.

o operation of slush funds in state bodies such as NICIL.

o lottery fund being used as petty cash for Office of the President.

The drain in public funds, plus squandermania and waste, has resulted in greater borrowing so that Guyana's national debt today is higher than that under the PNC regime. Mr. Ramkarran has called for action to deal with corruption, transparency and accountability. As Eddi Hooper sang, “Take warning; take warning: you better do good.” Much good can come should the government take these steps:

o Respect the Opposition's one-seat majority and commit itself to strengthen Parliamentary Democracy.

o Abide with the Rule of Law and foster a plural and free media.

o Appoint an Ombudsman.

o Form Procurement Commission and re-constitute national/regional tender boards.

o Send all files on corruption by state and para-state officials to DPP/CID for action.

o Appoint Chairperson and all members of Integrity Commission, and set up tribunal to investigate assets of all officials.

o Set up anti-money laundering intelligence unit and tribunal.

o Pass whistle-blowing law to protect those who want to tell about corrupt officials.

o Regulate elections campaign financing to cut out influence-peddling and promote fair elections.

o Hold Local Government Elections under reformed laws to resurrect grass-roots participatory democracy.

o Name a Commissioner of Information under the Freedom of Information Act.

o Reconstitute Broadcasting Authority to include qualified and independent professionals.

o Appoint a qualified Auditor General.

o Remove conflict of interest situation between Minister of Finance and the Audit Office.

o Re-organise leadership of state entities such as NICIL, GPL, GUYSUCO, National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) and NIS in interest of accountability and efficiency.

o Remove Minister of Finance as Chairman of NICIL and place excess revenues into the Consolidated Fund.

o Democratise state media to give equitable and balanced access to opposition and other views. o Remove party (PPP) domination of state boards and the University of Guyana Council.

o Replace the Minister of Home Affairs to restore public confidence in law enforcement agencies.

o Reshuffle and professionalise diplomatic corps. 

o Set up genuine tri-partite (AFC/PPP/APNU) Commission to oversee legislative agenda, and work for peaceful, participatory and inclusive governance.

Under its alliance and partnership policy, the AFC renews its patriotic commitment to work with all democratic forces and civil society to halt the rapid decline in the quality of national life, and urges the PPP to embrace genuine consultation and consensus. Today, the AFC holds a strategic balance and has, since November 28, 2011, started a new journey for real change in Guyana.”

Jagdeo & Ramotar Now on life support ....

Hooked up to "Burnham Constitution" & "House of Isreal" (PNC Church)