Editorial
Stabroek News
May 9, 2001

The young President Bharrat Jagdeo has undergone a baptism of fire since he was elected nearly two months ago. He has faced pressures from many quarters. First, he has had to face protests from the political opposition of one kind or another which have led to arson and attacks on Indians. Then he had difficulties with his own party in the appointment of a cabinet and it seems clear compromises were made. Finally, he has come under attack from Mr Ravi Dev, the leader of the Rise, Organise and Rebuild (ROAR) movement, for not protecting Indians or dealing adequately with what Mr Dev calls the Indian security question, and for negotiating under duress.

President Jagdeo's position has been that he represents all the people not just Indians, that though Indian himself he is Guyanese first, and that though voting has largely followed ethnic lines the current political problems are not due to ethnicity but to what he referred to as "an attempt at grabbing power outside of the ballot box". He has called on people to support the police in their effort to deal with criminal actions.

There is much in what he says. Though there can be valid criticism of the apparent failure so far of the police to identify and charge some of those involved in the arson and the repeated criminal attacks and robberies against Indians, by and large they have been attempting to do their job, often in the most difficult circumstances and in the face of continuing and sometimes excessive and unjust criticism. One assumes his critics would prefer harsher action by the police and perhaps even the declaration of a state of emergency.

Though ideally one would not wish normally to negotiate in a situation where there is continuing violence, this is not unprecedented, the case of South Africa being a well nown example. There were attempts on both sides to sabotage the talks that led to the freeing of Mr Mandela and his subsequent election by severe acts of violence. We believe President Jagdeo has made the right decision to have dialogue despite some further incidents of violence and has also shown the right spirit in indicating a desire for continuing dialogue with Mr Desmond Hoyte, the leader of the opposition.

The time has long passed for making debating points that may seem superficially attractive. The nation is at a potential turning point. There is a small minority with an apparently extremist agenda that is not in favour of talks and is willing to indulge in acts of violence in an effort to sabotage them. It would be folly to give in to them. In these circumstances, President Jagdeo is we believe correct in seeking a solution that is peaceful and moderate and can lead to an amelioration of the situation if successfully pursued.