Passages

A PPP stalwart
A “stalwart”, my dictionary declares, is “a loyal, reliable, hardworking supporter or participant in an organisation”. The PPP has made the term quite familiar in Guyana – it’s an organisation that prizes ‘stalwarts’. Reepu Daman Persaud, who just ‘left his earthly body’, was unquestionably one of the staunchest stalwarts in the history of the PPP.
Persaud, of course, wore several hats in the party – none more important than being head of the Hindu Dharmic Sabha, always described nowadays as ‘the largest Hindu organisation’ in Guyana. But it’s easy to forget (or for the young’uns, to know) that it wasn’t always so. In fact, Persaud had to build that organisation from ‘scratch’ after the older organisation – the Maha Sabha – was hijacked by the PNC.
This was started in 1974, when the Burnhamite dictatorship was entrenching itself, and Persaud’s mobilisation would have been designated as ‘enemy action’. Persaud, of course, was an integral member of the PPP’s inner circle since the late 1950s and a PPP MP since 1964. He would’ve been only 28 then. So even though the Maha Sabha received lavish support from the PNC (at one time its executives were paid from Congress Place), it soon became a shell in the face of the rampant Dharmic Sabha.
Persaud, while always a PPP stalwart, never interpreted his role as an ‘enemy’ of the PNC and always maintained cordial relations with the hierarchy of that organisation. Today, there is trenchant criticism of Lincoln Lewis for engaging the government. Persaud, like his mentor Jagan, always believed in maintaining contact with the PNC.
History has vindicated both of them.
We understand that his religion might have taught him that no one or no group is completely evil – or completely virtuous. He acted then, with a pragmatism that served his party well, both inside and outside of Parliament. He was a bridge builder. This is a role that hasn’t been sufficiently recognised or appreciated. We hope his comrades will expand this theme in the coming days.
It’s been said that he always wanted to be a lawyer – something that one of his daughters achieved. But while he never reached that goal – probably because of his circumstance, he more than made up for it with his knowledge of Parliamentary procedures. This is a talent that parliamentarians of the present generation might emulate to their (and the country’s) benefit.
May he achieve peace in whatever way his religion defines the final resting place of those who have done their duty to God, the people, and their country.
Postponed passage?
The president recently revealed that the opposition wants to be given some additional time before they vote on the budget. Now this is a switch – after all the huffing and puffing about making more chops bigger than the ones they inflicted last year. After the finance minister introduced the budget two Mondays ago, as has been the custom forever, the opposition got a whole week to study the budget. They then got another week, which ended Monday (April 8), to make general comments.
Starting Tuesday, they were supposed to transform themselves into a “Committee of Supply” and go through the budget item by item, line by line. So why the pleading for a delay?
They gave themselves away during their speeches last week. They basically couldn’t find anything wrong with the budget! What are they going to chop? The increased Old Age Pension? So after all the ‘fat talk’ to their supporters over the past year, they’re in a real bind. How’re they going to wean away voters if they admit the government’s doing everything right?
Those that have nothing to say should remain silent, lest they reveal their prejudices!
Passage into amnesia
Nagamootoo criticised the Gy$1 billion budgetary support for GuySuCo as a “bailout”. After his passage from the PPP, he’s forgotten the countless billions the sugar levy gave to the country?