retiredprof.com
  • Home
  • Videos

Elections....From Egypt to Guyana to Russia.

12/5/2011

0 Comments

 
     The people spoke and their message was clear. In Egypt the Islamists won a combine 61% of the votes, split between the Islamic Brotherhood and its ultra -conservative Salafists rivals.Putting on a pragmatic image the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party won 36.6% and the Salafi al-Nour won 24.5, while the liberal Egyptian Bloc won 13.4% in the first round. If this holds and there is no reason why it should not (except for the fact that many voters stayed away who may be supporters of the "liberals"), it will set up a struggle with the military over Egypt's political future.(We should keep in mind, what happened in Algeria  in 1991, when fundamentalists won the election but the military took power, with a civilian front). Elections are scheduled to be completed in January 2012.
     In Russia the 12 year domination of Putin and his United Russia Party, has ended. Voters sent a clear message that they are tired of his hard-lined security policies and his showmanship and that they have lost trust in him and Medvedev.  Exit polls suggest that United Russia received only between 45.5% and 48.5% of the votes for the Duma, a drop from 64.3% in 2007. The Communist party (20%) and other parties have complained of widespread fraud. Putin is expected to win the presidential election in March, but will not have his way. In the past United Russia, with its two-third majority could do what they wanted, from waging war in Chechnya, reasserting Russian control over the regions, changing the constitution to presiding over economic revival after the disaster of Yelstin. Now he will be forced to work with the opposition. Medvedev is expected to be the fall guy, which would allow Putin to name another Prime Minister. If Putin wins , and in all likelihood he will, he may be in power until2024.
     In Guyana, the governing Peoples Progressive Party lost its majotity, losing 4 seats to fall to 32 of the 65 seats (48.8%) distributed on the basis of proportional representation. They have been in power sine 1992 (after la grande noirceur...the great darkness of the previous 24 years of racial division and violence) and had suceeded in reviving the economy and bringing some racial peace in the South American republic. The renamed Peoples National Congress (A Partnership for National Unity..APNU), which had helg power from 1968-1992, won 26 seats with 40% of the votes and the Alliance for Change,,AFC won 7 seats and 10.3% of the votes
.   Infighting in the PPP, "a collision of ambitions" which saw some long-standing members breaking away and joining the AFC and taking some voters with them  led to this situation. The former Secretary of the PPP, Donald Ramotar, a mostly backroom player with litle experience in governance (this was where the "collision of ambitions" took place), was its presidential candidate and was sworn in as the 7th president. He has a great opportunity to use this"'setback" to continue the healing process, by forming a coalition government, bringing in some members the opposing parties. That is, if he has not neen soured by his years in the backroom, plotting strategy against these opponents.
      The voters of Guyana have shown great maturity. They sent a message to the PPP that they will not be taken for granted. That they will not reward shoddy governance and at least in the case of Moses Nagamootoo will not forget his great contribution and sacrifices for the PPP and the country. Now it is time for the leadership to show their maturity. It is time for healing. Carpe diem...Grab it.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Follow me on Twitter

    ​
    Picture
    fig 2-b My Father and Mother to whom I owe everything

    "Ecce Homo"  ("Behold the Man"), Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Pontius Pilate presenting a scourged Jesus to the people of Jerusalem.

    fig 1-b


    figure 1-a

    F. Goya
    Two men fighting with clubs
    circa 1819-1823

    The Black Paintings Period


    (Fig 2a) The Death of Innocents


    Author

     Ishwar R. Prashad recently retired from over 47 years of teaching.

    He taught Political Science variously at Dawson College, Loyola College, Algoma University College, Sir George Williams University, Concordia University and Vanier College.

    Previously, he taught for nine years in Port Mourant, Guyana.


    He became Principal of Corentyne Comprehensive High School at the tender age of 21. During this time he turned down Scholarship offers to study overseas in England and the U.S.S.R.

    He chose Canada and after graduating from Sir George Williams with a B.A Honours with Distinction, he accepted a Fellowship to complete his graduate work at McMaster University. He completed his first two degrees-Bachelors and Masters- in three years.  

    His last position was as Co-Ordinator of Political Science and Economics at Vanier College and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Concordia University.

    He is married to the former Juliet Ramcharan (Library Supervisor, McGill University) and together they have three children – Indra R. Prashad, P.Eng. ,McGill (Presently Manager, Ontario Safe Water Drinking Agency), Ishwar R. Prashad Jr., B.A ,McGill (Presently, President, Kismit Gear Inc.) and Rabindra Y. Prashad, (Presently, Artist and Chef).They are the proud Grandparents of eight grandchildren-Miranda, Kamal, Ayesha, Élan, Anĵa , Étienne, Chloé, and Jasmine.

     

     

     





     



    Archives

    July 2020
    May 2020
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    November 1999

    Categories

    All
    A
    Estryed Infrastructure
    F
    Hai
    Ic
    I Will Srike With
    Jr
    O
    Q
    T

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.