Change, but the same

Weekly viewpoint by Robert Persaud MBA

My favourite French saying plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose?”(The more things change, the more they remain the same), in our context, is more than just a saying; this phrase aptly describes what has been taking place in so many aspects of our national political life. This week alone I can cite several examples where certain politicians’ antics and tricks have not changed one bit, in spite of the meteoric changes and modernization of our society and the world at large. Here are a few examples.

Example 1: The now infamous statements by PNCR activist and Channel Nine talk-show host Ronald Waddell was just more of the same race-hate and call to violence comments we have been hearing from those quarters’. These odious and `monstrous’ remarks are too filthy to repeat in this viewpoint as so much publicity has already been given to them. We are happy that the Ethnic Relations Commission is investigating the matter and Channel Nine has suspended the programme. But what is the apathetic Advisory Committee on Broadcasting doing? And, yes the appropriate State institutions have less than vigilant in dealing aggressively with such seeming breaches of the laws of the land. The people of this country are crying out why they have to endure such caustic and potentially violence-inviting broadcasts, especially at a time when the organized criminals are on the loose again. Don’t be surprised if the regular defenders of such lawless and provocative speech and behaviour jump to defend Waddell's and Channel Nine’s right to free speech. I might remind them once more that in the Constitution of Guyana freedom of expression is not an absolute right. The article in the Constitution governing free speech has a forfeiture clause (146-3) “Freedom of expression in this article does not relate to hate speeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons.”

Example 2: The security forces earlier this week mounted a massive operation to go after the criminal elements who have held Buxton hostage and use it as a base to commit all sorts of heinous crimes, including kidnapping, rapes, murders and torching of humans. When we think that the civilized response from the entire media, political and social landscape would have been to support a legal and legitimate crackdown on criminals, the pro-Opposition section of the media led by Prime News and Evening News went into their expected mode – to discredit and blast the efforts of the security forces. The vulgarity of these reports, the many outlandish and false claims, and the unfair and unsubstantiated attacks on our lawmen must have offended even our most apolitical law-abiding citizen. Usually, the government is the first to condemn such breaches of basic journalistic standards by these “news” outfits. This is done because it has the responsibility of ensuring that the conditions are right for the safety and security of those who are tasked with protecting and serving the people of Guyana. And yes, when there are excesses by these same law officers, the administration does not fail to act nor are citizens denied the opportunity of accessing the different statutory and Constitutional mechanisms to lodge complaints and seek redress. Criminals are emboldened by the biased media reports against the police. The pro-Opposition media entities, which are edited and managed by propaganda operatives of the former PNC regime, are myopic in their belief that undermining law and order would only harm the interest of the PPP/C Government. A repeat of the same old trick.

Example 3: Every time the security forces move firmly against the criminals, the main Opposition Party jumps and scream foul. The PNCR leader criticized the operation, as expected, suggesting that the security forces should have issued prior notices about its anti-crime operations. And if that was not ridiculous enough, one of the leading PNCR Members of Parliament Basil Williams told the Evening News on the evening of October 24 in a comment about the security forces’ operation: “The scene reminded me of a movie showing the Germans hurling the Jews in those camps and it was really a pity of a situation…” Do these latest sentiments mean that the PNCR is again just paying lip-service to support the crime fight and to work with the government to preserve law and order in the country? The private sector and civil society which found comfort in the PNCR Opposition’s support for the national crime fight, would have by these statements, realized the hollowness of the PNCR’s `support’.

These three examples do read and sound familiar! They mirror the antics by some of these same elements and operatives during the 2002-2003 crime spree. We do not expect most of the critics and commentators to offer much public word of support for the security forces. But when the criminals strike these individuals and groups will be the first to attack the government and security forces for not doing enough. No matter how much society changes and the world move forward, there are some political elements who are still locked in that backward mode of antagonistic and violence-prone behaviour.

The old politics of confrontation is meant for the dustbin of history. It is time these players change with the times and take positive positions and actions which are helpful to Guyana’s development. When are we going to prove wrong that old French saying - plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose?”(The more things change, the more they remain the same.)

TOP