Reflections on our Political Economy

Dear Editor,

Reflections on our Political Economy,
Dear Editor,

I write to recognise the outstanding presentation by young Nigel Hughes at last weekend’s symposium which addressed the legacy of the late President Burnham. The presentation itself stirred notions of the speaker’s own potential to play a role in our country’s future.
In the same breath, I must recognise the interesting intervention by my elder comrade, Mr Hamilton Green. I have not had the chance to personally ask of his intent, but it did no credit to the late Leader and our Party.
Electoral malpractice is not unique to Guyana, not to the PNC, and certainly not to any ethnic group in our country. But supporters of all political formations sincerely and fervently believe the other(s) guilty of electoral fraud over the years. I myself am very sure that, as the Bible says, ‘Let he is without sin cast the first stone’!
In this vein, I take President Ali’s assertion that there will be no more rigging of elections (https://demerarawaves.com/2024/02/23/no-more-election-rigging-in-guyana-pres-ali/) to be both a mature and welcome recognition of a shared history of rigging, and a declaration by the PPP to restrain its operatives from such future behaviour. I hope that Elder Green’s interventions were similarity meant.
In this case, Guyanese can rest easily that two senior and revered national leaders have confronted the reality that electoral malpractice, from whichever camp, is a thing of the past. This has profound implications for the governance options possible in our country, especially power sharing.
The execution the power sharing agreement between the late Presidents Jagan and Burnham was interrupted by the latter’s demise. I was intimately involved in this matter; in which I retain great passion. I will return to it in the near future.
Thank you, Comrade Editor.
Malcolm Parris, CCH