January 29,2017 Source

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has elected Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, as its General-Secretary. By a mere 13 votes, he beat contender Dr Frank Anthony, behind whom past General-Secretary Clement Rohee, having withdrawn his name, threw his support . 
While Jagdeo is no stranger to politics, his brand of politics disconcertingly reverberates. He continues to attract attention, given the conditions under which he ascended the political ladder. President Cheddi Jagan had appointed him junior minister to then Minister of Finance Asgar Ally, whom he later fired and thereafter promoted Jagdeo, whom Ally had accused of undermining him.

When in 1997 the PPP/C contested elections, an “A team” was put forward. The leaders of this team was prime ministerial candidate Samuel Hinds, presidential candidate Janet Jagan and Jagdeo. Though uncertain what role he would have taken, none doubted that he was being positioned to play a significant part in the government. With the PPP/C’s victory, he began carving out a space, demonstrating the willingness to be a team player, providing he leads the team.

This characteristic was seen throughout. From Minister of Finance to president, Jagdeo maintained control of the nation’s purse strings and expected unflinching compliance, be it administratively, politically or societal. Reportedly, financial and economic decision-making, inclusive of public companies and corporations, were initiated and concluded by him.

An instance that reverberated and which almost brought the economy to a halt was the 1999 Public Service strike. The strike escalated, because in addition to then Minister of the Public Service George Fung-on saying not a cent more to public servants and refusing to meet with their unions, then Finance Minister Jagdeo advised the government to stick with Fung-on’s position.  After more than 50-days of strike action, workers shot by the Guyana Police Force, and billions of dollars lost in revenue, the government had to agree to arbitration to end the strike.

It is a held view that having caused the government and country this major setback, Jagdeo during his presidency became more determined in his anti-union stance.  The right to collective bargaining for public servants was denied and the arbitration award was never fully implemented. Trade unions can identify their unique experiences where once his government had a say, how poorly they were treated.

When in 1999 Mrs Jagan resigned the presidency, Jagdeo’s ascendancy was described as musical chairs. In keeping with ascension, Hinds was expected to succeed Mrs Jagan. Instead, he ascended to the presidency, making way for Jagdeo to ascend to prime minister. Thereafter, Hinds stepped down to allow Jagdeo to be appointed president and he be re-appointed prime minister.

That dubious ascension notwithstanding, given Jagdeo’s relative youth, influential voices asked that he be given the chance to govern. There was the general expectation that having not experienced the racial upheavals of the 1960s, governance under him would have seen fewer conflicts and less animosity. Yet, it was during this period that several instances of repressive governmental acts and actions were noted.

There were heightened allegations — some not without justification — of racial tensions and conflicts, groups targeted for exclusion based on geography, political association, and identity. Imbalances in budgetary allocations and resources directed to, or taken away from regions where the government under his leadership did not control, were noted.

The narco-economy was allowed to flourish, which Professor Clive Thomas noted represented a significant percentage of the economy. The criminalised state was also coined, because in addition to the narco-economy, corruption was pervasive. Transparency International ranked Guyana the most corrupt Caribbean English-speaking country, a shame and stigma that require much work to remove. During this period, when hundreds of dead bodies were turning up all over the place, Dr Roger Luncheon famously described the carnage as being done by “phantom” squads.  Later, it was learnt that the government’s hands were bloody.

Dissent and alternative views were not treated as a right or opportunity to engage or review. There exist several anecdotes. Notably among them is Mrs Jagan who was publicly demeaned for disagreeing with Jagdeo’s policy of withdrawing government advertisements from Stabroek News for its reportage. The Guyana Chronicle became a political mouth- piece attacking political rivals, those the government disagreed with, and justifying whatever actions his government took.

President Jagdeo assented to the bill that allows a person not more than two consecutive terms to be president.  On demitting office, he began putting a process in place to create a framework to see his return as president, though throughout Donald Ramotar’s presidency he reiterated his non-intention of holding constitutional office again. The 2015 elections proved otherwise. Jagdeo not only appeared on the List of Representatives, but successfully manipulated the system and became Leader of the Opposition.

With the ascension to the most powerful office in the country’s oldest political party, there is need to begin frank and honest national discussions about Jagdeo’s politics which continues to reverberate and will shape the future of the PPP/C and Guyana.