One would assume that any legitimate ruling party that forms a government would be eager to seek and maintain legitimacy in the eyes of its constituents and for that matter, the entire populace.

Recent events, however, have cast doubt on the credibility of the PPP/Civic and it would appear as if it is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of its supporters. The PPP has been deathly afraid of being branded an ‘Indian backed party’ and has caustically refuted any insinuation that it is kept in power by Indian votes despite statistics that reveal otherwise.

Surujnie Singh shot dead   Shivsankar  Cremation  Ravi-Boodhoo-shot  Abducted_Harrikisson  Nathoo's Bar

This morbid political sham has allowed the PPP to shirk its responsibilities of governance, by ungratefully disclaiming Indians after it has hogged their votes at election time; it halves its responsibilities by ignoring its responsibilities to Indians. Its job is made easier by tokenism and handouts to non-Indian communities to quell the cries of marginalization. The PPP has not been engaged in governance, it has been primarily concerned with shamming the Indians and deflecting claims of marginaliation by Blacks with handouts and public relations battles.

The recent formation of the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) is but a feeble attempt to once again, con the Indian constituency. The double standards are evident and the PPP’s involvement in this organisation destroys the party’s claim that it is not involved in ethnic politics.

Even though the members of the IAC have vehemently denied PPP connections, the evidence is clear. There is no harm in the PPP acknowledging any overlap in membership, the PNC is not shy in acknowledging the same with ACDA, so what’s the big deal?

The PPP/IAC is misguided to try to cover up the very visible incestuous nature of its relationship. One of the leading members of the IAC was a member of staff of the Office of the President. Another is involved in canvassing support for the party on the campus of the University of Guyana. Senior PPP functionaries attend the activities of the IAC, while the GIHA events are boycotted by those same officials.

The PPP cannot be expected to be taken seriously as a viable option in the next election if it continues to sham its supporters. The party was elected to govern and not to be engaged in ‘grudge melas’ with other groups. The country is in crisis and whether they have more people attend their melas or not, it would not extricate the country from the most grave crisis it has seen in years.

Dear Editor:

I was part of a picketing exercise organized by the Roar Toronto group on Saturday, May 17 at the L’Amoreaux Community Centre ground in Scarborough where the Guyana Festival was taking place.

I joined the picket line in order to register my disgust at the atrocities being perpetrated in my native Guyana where an impotent government is fiddling while its Indian supporters are facing a daily menu of robberies, beatings, rapes, kidnappings, murders and other chilling crimes.

I was shocked when the brother of one of the well feathered ministers in the Guyana government came over and began hurling obscenities and abuses at us on the picket line. This foul-mouthed minion of the Guyana ruling elite could not contain his anger when he saw our placards questioning the weakness and incompetence of the government he is obviously fawning to. His uncontrolled swearing and obstreperous behaviour drew the attention of the Toronto Police who were present there and who led him away thus avoiding what could have been a possible ugly confrontation.

Another sycophant in the form of a reporter from a local community newspaper joined in the assault on us demanding that we should have taken this kind of action when the PNC was in power. Clearly, he was making a racial argument to support a government in spite of its ineptitude.

For the benefit of this "reporter" and his likes, the PNC ruled for their own kind; that was not unexpected. Ony the PPP can be depended on to collect the votes from its Indian supporters and then betray them.

Prakash Anand, Mississauga

Dear Editor: The PPP government and the Guyana Consulate in Toronto are out of sync with reality.

I watch with great pain in my heart everyday how my fellow Guyanese are being slaughtered, brutalized and robbed with little concern shown by the government of our choice.

This was very evident here in Canada when we recently had our Independence celebrations. Mr Doobay of the Guyana Consulate held a dinner and forum at a banquet hall proposing Guyana as the ultimate and perfect tourist destination. The Guyanese Minister of Tourism Mr. Manzoor Nadir came here to sell this idea.

How unrealistic can this government get in dealing with problems of their people?

This was the same time that the US Ambassador issued a warning to its citizens not to go to Guyana and he even threatened to pull out if something is not done to curb the crime!

Mr Doobay, if he was in his right mind, should have spent the peoples’ money on a forum to solve the crime situation and to find out exactly what needs to be done to alleviate the peoples’ nightmares.

By the time the PPP and their cronies wake up, too late shall be the cry.

 Ram Prashad, Toronto.