By Lincoln Lewis- Bharrat Jagdeo is either losing his marbles or desperate to contain Guyanese. Sunday at Babu Jaan on the occasion of the death anniversary of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Leader and President Cheddi Jagan, the Party General Secretary and Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo resorted to ominous threats to the people of Guyana.
Demerara Waves reports the notorious General Secretary and strong man, whose regime was associated with death squads and the bloodiest period in the history of post-independence Guyana “… warned emerging political challengers that they could face stiff response.‘You got all kinds, some who are trying to challenge us, but they better be cautious. They got to come right. It’s a free country politically, but they may have interpreted our being quiet as a sign of weakness.’”
Coming in the aftermath of the recent Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) strike which witnessed Guyanese of all races united in one accord, it is clear Jagdeo, widely referred to as “the evil one” in some quarters is feeling the pressure mounting against the PPP. The unity of the working class bothers him, and this is why he is engineering every means to destroy organised labour, and drive fear into society so that they are too numb to act.
The threats he makes are reflective of his own fear. Fear of losing power that he has amassed from questionable elections; fear of the masses revolting from the hardship his de-facto third term has yielded; fear of losing his questionable wealth and being brought to justice for the crimes, corruption and questionable deaths which his administration and friends may be associated with; fear of the many victims and their families who cried and died under his regime and that of Irfaan Ali’s, the sexual abuse of minor boys and girls, torture and highly suspected narco- association highlighted under his terms in office; fear of being held accountable for crimes against the state.
Bharrat Jagdeo cannot be at peace for even as the Opposition is largely quiet and its effectiveness questioned, yet he fears.
The GTU strike did not allow for the PPP to infiltrate its ranks and effect violence to blame the Opposition and fracture the unity of teachers as is their customary habit. So, they fear. They fear ethnic and racial unity. It is not by accident they are promoting their ‘one Guyana’ platform to dilute the spirit and will of togetherness. They do so because they fear the power in our national motto “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” That is our weapon against dictators and autocratic regimes like the Jagdeo/Ali regime.
We the people of Guyana united in common sorrow and hardship must not fear for we are mightier than any dictator, any tyrant who threatens us. We must not fear to hold Jagdeo, Ali and their cronies accountable. We must be our brothers and sisters keepers, regardless of which region we are in, regardless of our class, colour or past or present political persuasion.
Today I call on FITUG and its affiliates, my brothers and sisters of these unions to open your eyes. To remember your commitment to the working class of this country who have placed their trust in you. Your leaders know the signs of tyranny. They understand when government is failing the workers and the dangers behind the threats made. In the names of those who fought and struggled to make us free denounce these threats made by the VP for none will escape the impact of that which he is speaking so ominously about. We know the signs.
President Irfaan Ali must say to this nation where he stands in light of such statements made by VP Jagdeo. If he truly wields power, he must ensure that he ceases and desist the emasculation of the President. Jagdeo has made Ali like a puppet to sing, dance, entertain the masses and perform ceremonial duties. The usurper head of state speaks as the power behind the presidency with the authority to dictate what happens at all levels of Guyana. Ali either harness the VP or be held equally accountable for giving him the reins of power to be as obnoxious as he possibly can.
The megalomania Guyanese are witnessing is a threat to our national peace and an indication of what plans the vice president has in his mind on how best to deal with challenges to his government and the oligarchy he is establishing. Guyanese must take what he says seriously. He has demonstrated an evil that this nation has become familiar with and would gladly attempt to carry out his threats on those whom he considers to be dissenters or associates of those who dare to challenge him.
Jagdeo is showing the ugly qualities of a political bully and a dictator, one who is obsessed with power and believes himself entitled to do as he pleases to whomever he pleases. He is unfortunately overlooking the fact that the world has seen many like him rise and have also witnessed their fall. He will be no different for nothing stops people’s power when they rise in unity against political leaders and demons like him.
The Ethnic Relations Commission must condemn this subliminal message of anticipated and retaliatory threats and violence uttered by the VP which threatens the peace and stability of this nation. Guyanese must reject this.