Looking for civility
Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
July 27, 2004
JUDGING from the number of letters to the press on the subject and the general feeling among the population, Guyanese are about at the end of their tether on the seemingly endless animosity between the two major political parties here – the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the main Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).
They seem to forever be on the attack against each other, heaping criticism of one form or another and seemingly unaware that most of the population have grown tired of it all and are yearning for civility to be the order of the day.
The band of TV `talk show’ hosts who most times descend into nothing less than tirades against one side or the other does not help matters either.
In fact, they have been found so much wanting that the watchdog Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) last month deplored the “reckless” conduct by TV `talk show hosts’ and `commentators’.
It went to the extent of warning owners of the TV stations, advising licencees of their commitment to comply with the conditions of the broadcast licence issued.
In a reminder to all licencees of TV stations, it said they have to uphold and adhere to accepted and time-honoured standards of television broadcasting as it relates to content and intent.
There has been nothing from that august body since then; no TV station has been pulled from broadcasting but the “vitriol” that the committee found cause to warn against in its statement last month continues.
So much for the watchdog keeping watch.
But then the TV `talk show’ hosts may be taking their cue from some political leaders who set their own standards on the public stage.
Take for example that return earlier this month of the PNC to Parliament for one sitting.
Just as many were breathing a sigh of relief that the political wrangling was about to wane – even if for a short while – the normally unflappable Speaker of the House, Mr Ralph Ramkarran, found the behaviour of some Opposition Members so unbearable that he had to walk out of the National Assembly.
He returned after a while and had some harsh words for the misbehaved.
Civility is in dire shortage in the political life of this country and it is something that serious political leaders should sit and ponder.
In the July 19, 2004 edition of Newsweek, an article headed `Marching toward civility’ focuses on recent developments in the long troubled Northern Ireland where bitter enemies are talking about a `summer of love’.
Newsweek reports: “Sectarian violence has all but vanished. The political situation looks dreadful; for one thing, home rule has been suspended for more than a year and a half. But beneath the surface there’s talk that the two leading parties, Sin Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party, will soon reach the ‘deal of all deals’ to get the suspended government up and running again.”
Politicians from the PPP/C and the PNCR have been to Northern Ireland to see how they have been progressing towards ending their old, old enmity.
Is it asking too much for them to now also join in the march towards civility?