Last August 2nd fourth anniversary of the current administration was observed without much of the fanfare and spirit of jubilation and the hype that was present after the first anniversary. Traveling around the country and engaging the public late July and early August, except for a few political activists, people hardly seemed to take note of the fourth anniversary since the declaration of official results that propelled Irfaan Ali to the Presidency and PPP to government. The excitement and brouhaha of August 2, 2020 as well as the varied programs that marked the first and second anniversaries were not felt last month. Also, the President’s popularity seems on a wane after ascending during the first half of his term. The government has lost its sheen for various reasons not the least being varied allegations, none of which proven in a court. The Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo remains popular and draw at the ballot box; the public have faith in him to get things done, taking their complaints and grouse to him for solution. Jagdeo is held in awe and seems like the only one who people have faith in to address problems. It appears that the VP has to get everything done by himself, a one person machine, as colleagues come across as ineffective and inefficient. He is a master strategist and tactician who knows how to work the ground to please the base. Unlike for Jagdeo, the public wants most Ministers and other officials gone; they are most unpopular, giving the government bad ratings. People despise them but there are a few MPs and Ministers who have retained the peoples’ trust, respect, and adulation.
Expectations from government have not been satisfactorily met. Disappointment in governance was expressed all around. Abusive words were used in response to the mention of some names tied to the administration. Because of them and other reasons, people are becoming increasingly uninterested in politics. They seem to want to carry on with their lives and don’t be bothered by politicians and broken promises. Voter apathy is also rising. Many said, “Me done with voting” and with “volunteering for party activities and electoral campaigns”. Many activists from 2020 and earlier elections said they will not volunteer for the party any more as poll watchers, vote counters, campaign volunteers, and vote getters. Several activists who traveled from NY to assist the party in elections said they won’t do it again. Several ‘Guardians of democracy’ and ballot box watchers said they won’t come out again should another 2020 electoral situation arise.
As the local media and commentators noted, democracy was saved on August 2, 2020 when the coalition government decided to concede defeat in the March 2 elections and GECOM made a declaration amidst pressure to do the right and honorable thing. International and local observers, opposition parties, and local and foreign NGOs condemned various attempts between March 3 and August 1 to declare fraudulent results not reflective of the will of the voters. The diaspora in USA, Canada, UK, and elsewhere rallied to protect a critical aspect of democracy — the sanctity of the ballots. They lobbied influential politicians and governments to save democracy (respect for free and fair elections). As a result of Diaspora lobbying, there was international intervention that rescued democracy in Guyana.
But much has changed from those five months period between March 2 and August 2, 2020. The desire and commitment to fight for democracy and what is right and the excitement of victory and what it would usher in its wake has disappeared from the psyche of Guyanese.
From August 2020 when there were praises for the new government and adulation for Ministers, now is a changed view. Many from Region 11, the diaspora, express feelings of disgust; they don’t like what they see or hear about in Guyana. They swear they will not respond to calls to save democracy again. People at home and in the diaspora have lost interest in politics amidst what they attribute to: alienation between themselves and politicians, rising cost of living, red tape in conducting business, decline in security, allegations of corruption, sanctions from foreign governments, political arrogance, and more. Ministers are no longer grounded as when they were mere opposition activists or MPs, making themselves available to all in order to get votes to win election. The people complain that they are increasingly becoming alienated from their MPs, Ministers, and officials of the government. Activists can’t get appointments to see Ministers and other officials. Many of those who campaigned for the party claimed they have not received any benefits and Ministers don’t even take their calls, not even those with who they were once close. They complained that others who were with the coalition have been embraced and given massive contracts and high paying jobs while those loyal to the PPP have been marginalized.
They note that phone calls to Ministers and other officials have gone unanswered. Only a few Ministers and officials take their calls. Zulfi Mustapha, Bishop Juan Edghill, Anil Nandlall, Vickram Bharrat, and a few others are praised for answering phone calls or returning calls even if they can’t deliver on requests. At a minimum, they try to address concerns unlike others who blank the public. The public is pleased that one Minister accused of multiple sexual violations is gone; they note that he hardly ever answered phone calls and did not respond to requests or deliver on commitments. They feel a few more Ministers and other government officials should be quickly gone, swearing that there are Ministers who have been involved in massive corruption. They also note that several CEOs and Directors of state corporations have given the party a bad image and should be banished.
In spite of complaints, the PPP remains more preferred than the other parties; the opposition has been ineffective. The stigma of 2020 still haunts the APNU.
