Two government structures, one country, zero existence

Dear Editor,

I am trying to understand what it is that we have in place, and at work, in Guyana currently. What it is that we really have, for all purposes and intents. As I see it, with my limited awareness, what we really have is two governing structures, one country, zero existence, and no prospects. Zero prospects for the present, or any continuity into the future.

Not too long ago, I think there was this same situation in Afghanistan, where a separate swearing -in ceremony was held for competing presidents. With respect to the Afghans, it reflects their own saga of strife, and where that has brought them, condemned them. It is a real war over there, not one of sparring words and pugnacious postures, but one where people go down and a country goes up in the flares of differences. No watching Guyanese, no Guyanese participating in the overheated conversations (if they can be called conversations) from here or any other corner of the world, is in need of any enlightenment as to what that curious turn of phrase I chose ‘flares of differences’ signify. For whenever we get past the sharp words and hard lines drawn, and redrawn for emphasis of intent and strength, then matters could flare out of control or concern.

I have always had a problem when matters deteriorate to those irretrievable points, be such in family, community, or country. And that pertains especially to this country, where there is marshalling and conditioning and readying for any plunge that takes us wherever it takes us. That is, if COVID-19 does not lay us low first. I would hope that neither takes hold here: either the manmade political one, or the viral one.

But I think and I sense that I am in a minority of minorities here. For as the relentless creep of a virus extends so, too, is the determined crawl in political minds that is of two governance structures in one country that lead to nowhere and nothing. It is most disconcerting that at this hour when we need all shoulders bent to the same wheel, with all minds fixed on overcoming, or at least managing sensibly, one target (the virus), we are at this place of two governance apparatuses (or none at all), with no other movement and nothing else in sight, but of clashing, confrontational visions.

At this rate, and with the separate objectives fuelled and refuelled in minds made tough, there can only be further distancing (ironic, present circumstances considered), continued extending of the controversies and impasses, and the inexorable building to the believed ending of nothing (recall the ‘flares’ mentioned earlier). For this cannot end well, that which began poorly, and keeps growing worse by the day. Recount leads nowhere. First, there were the deep distrusts; second, there were the embedded animosities; third, there is now the fateful buildup of hatreds; and, last, there is the possibly fatal destinies that await.

I say all of this, for when we hold on to one governance presence with a deathlike grip that is bad and implausible enough; but when a parallel second and clashing arrangement is concocted and given life, then the bad becomes not only unworkable, but unthinkable as to its directions, interferences, and consequences. I detect that there is readiness for such actualities. And this is why there is insistence with not having one conversation around one table about how to probe, like a neurosurgeon for any threads in the head, for quick answers and longer-term solutions. Rather, we are now at where I have always said, and with that which should be more and more apparent with each developing element in our political existence, we are not of one people but two, not of one nation but of any other number, and we certainly don’t have one destiny anymore.

Not with what we have displayed; not with what we believe in, stand for, and strengthen thoughtlessly. Not when we cannot stand the thought of the other anymore. I think that the words of Trinidad’s PM Keith Rowley substantiate. And that is why we now have-perhaps, what was inevitable-which is two governance structures. With this in mind, and given competing plans for coronavirus, I am wondering how long it takes before we end up with two crime-fighting realities, where one is official and recognized, the other is of something more like those vivid memories from around the turn of this century. To take this where residual right-thinking Guyanese shudder from going, I must be bold enough to go, even though I must tread carefully. Wherever there is government, an essential element of such is the presence of an army. Since we have some semblance of two governments, then it is simply a matter of time and events before there are two armies around. Do we really want to get there?

Now it looks as though we are hell bent to get to these passes, virus or no virus. I would hope that I am wrong, terribly wrong on all of this. But when there are two governments supposedly operating in the same place (just like a broken house with two masters), then that could only lead to a destination that is of this: nothing. Nobody wins, everybody loses. Sometimes more than power is lost. Think about that, all of this.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall