As the nation prepares for the 2025 General and Regional Elections the Opposition not only need to ponder but be guided by the historical development and activities of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Alliance for Change (AFC). The formation of both the AFC and PNC resulted from the merging of diverse groups and individuals who recognised they would be more likely to take the reins of government as a coalition, than as individual forces.
It is not too long in our history for us to forget, not be able to educate our younger generations that the original formation of the PNC included the Forbes Burnham-faction of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) merging with other interest groups; and the PNC in 1964 took the government through a coalition formation with Peter D’Aguiar of the United Force (UF).
The AFC was formed with the coming together of the representatives of the PNC (Raphael Trotman), PPP (Khemraj Ramjattan) and Sheila Holder of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). David Granger was also able to take the reins of power in 2015 with a big tent approach comprising the PNC/ APNU which formed a coalition with the AFC .
It appears that in our most challenging and darkest years politically the new leadership of both the PNC and the AFC without offering a better alternative where voters can believe, and see victory have lost sight of history and an understanding of the political climate and culture that produces leaders and victory at the polls.
It should cause these two leaders and the voting public much concern about the growing perception that even in the presence of recent history and widely available information, there is competing alarming naivety and self-centeredness on display. No doubt such perceptions if real places the Opposition at risk for 2025 with much foreboding regarding a possible return of the PPP to power.
The act by David Hinds of the WPA, on Emancipation Eve, joining hands with Norton and Hughes, as a sign of unity though well intended, in less than a month appears meaningless in light of the political narcissism on display.
Both leaders need each other and must therefore not jeopardise the opportunity given them by their constituency to deliver a win for the collective opposition and Guyana. Where does Hughes and Norton get their understanding that they can go separately and unseat the PPP?
They seem to have forgotten how their parties were able to secure the Executive reins in 2015, less than ten short years ago. To take a contrarian approach would reinforce to many in the electorate these leaders are driven by self-interest, i.e. their desire to enter the National Assembly by any means necessary, not to win an election to acquire executive power and deliver as expected for the nation at large.
The Opposition’s priority, Norton, Hughes, et al, if they are seriously thinking of changing Guyana for the better, must be about winning the General and Regional elections not about their individual desire or super ego. This is not about what Norton or Hughes wants and it is hoped both men understand this. They are placed there to represent the interest of the people.
If their ears are not to the ground listening to the voices of the people; if they are not prepared to be good students of what history has taught Guyana, and the history of both political parties, then any expectation of genuine servant leadership and chances of rescuing Guyana from the clutches of the PPP becomes more of a pipe dream .
They would have missed the learning opportunity from 2020 when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) organised its pathway to victory in the biggest political scam and undermining of the Representation of the Peoples Act this country has ever witnessed. Not only did they use a number of paper parties to siphon off votes from the Opposition, pick up the disaffected from the PPP, these also served the purpose of providing multiple and diverse voices to support carefully planted PPP misinformation re statement of polls and so forth.
Collectively these small parties added validity by raising their voices to support PPP claims of ” electoral rigging.” PPP deep pockets, level of political aggression and electoral corruption makes this again possible in 2025.
The Opposition must strategise to prevent this happening, starting first and now with facing the reality that on every occasion the PNC and AFC were able to take the reins of the Executive, it was through coalition politics. It’s time these two gentlemen act in the best interest of the people and at least live up to the expectations of those who vested them their vote. A fragmented Opposition serves only the PPP’s purpose.
