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Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton and a four-member team are in Canada hosting meetings with the diaspora. Last Sunday he told a town hall meeting in Ontario, the Opposition is skeptical of street protests against the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government’s management of the state and political economy for fear it backfires.
Prior to assuming positions of leadership in the PNCR and Opposition, Norton campaigned on the benefit of street protests and won the hearts of disaffected Guyanese. He has since, however, been promoting an argument that street protest should be the last option or variations of this.
Guyana’s politics is divided along racial lines, straight down the middle. The Indian dominated PPP government continues to ignore statements by local and international politicians to govern in a manner that is inclusive and promotes shared prosperity. Notably among those appealing for a political paradigm shift are United States Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Opposition lays out litany of complaints against Government
At the weekly press conferences of the Leader of the Opposition, PNCR, and the Alliance for Guyana (AFC) a litany of complaints are outlined , including allegations of corruption; discrimination against Opposition strongholds, individuals, groups and communities; discriminatory allocation of economic resources and contracts to “friends, families and favourites;” criticism of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM); excluding the Opposition from important decision-making, among others.
Amid the identified issues, which are characteristics of governance, the Opposition does not say what action (s) will presently be taken to effect change but continues to present laundry lists of what they would do if they won the next elections, constitutionally due next year.
Norton told the audience in Canada street protest is the not best option, but did not present an alternative to deliver for the opposition constituency and hold government accountable.
Making his pitch the Opposition Leader said “Let us be sensible. We want all Guyanese to benefit. We, at this stage, should not do anything that will result in conflict between the two major ethnic groups.”
He told the audience, Indian Guyanese are tired of the PPP and are no longer supportive. No evidence was provided to substantiate the view, save expressing his belief the PPP General Secretary and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s aim is to provoke the Opposition to engage in street protest.
The Opposition told the audience the PPP pays young African Guyanese to beat Indian Guyanese and then blame the PNCR. Norton cited the East Coast Demerara protest against the police shooting death of Quindon Bacchus to support the contention.
Constitution protects right to protest
Guyana’s constitution protects the right to public assembly. The Guyana Police Force, under the Laws of Guyana has a responsibility to ensure the protection of those exercising their constitutional right, likewise dealing with persons bent on breaking the law. It is the police’s responsibility to serve and protect the law-abiding and law-breaker.
The Opposition Leader’s view on protest conflicts with influential leaders in the Guyanese society such as Working People’s Alliance co-leader, Dr. David Hinds; former President David Granger, retired Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Gary Best, shadow Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Roysdale Forde S.C, General Secretary Guyana Trades Union Congress, Lincoln Lewis; social activist and owner of 107.1FM radio, Mark Benschop; among others
Granger, responding to a question posed by Benschop, host of Straight Up programme, on the effectiveness of protest said, “protest is absolutely effective, being silent is not a good strategy for dealing with an oppressive administration.” The former president said by protesting citizens let oppressive governments know how they feel and “protest is part of normal political activity.”
2020 General Elections brouhaha
During the 2020 General Elections brouhaha, PPP supporters erupted in street protests in Berbice and Georgetown. Those protests saw PPP supporters terrorising school children going home in the school bus that resulted in injuries. The car of a nurse, on her way home, was stoned and the windshield broken. Police were attacked and some were seen running from the PPP protesters. One person died from injuries resulting from the protest.
Addressing relationship of PPP supporters with their leadership the PNCR leader offered that many Indo-Guyanese, mainly the PPP support base, were tired and not supporting their party. At the same time, he suggested Jagdeo continued to provoke his opponents into resorting to street protests.
Even as Norton cited the Bacchus’ reference to shore up the argument that “street protest is not the best option right now” he countered that “That must not be interpreted to mean that there will be no protest.” He said, “There will be protests but they will be done in a way that allows us to achieve our objective without allowing the PPP to achieve their objective of creating division within the society.” He has not laid out an alternative or acted accordingly.
GECOM’s declaration of the 2020 Elections shows that half the society supports the Opposition. Meanwhile complaints of exclusion, discrimination and corruption have reached crescendo, with no apparent strategy on the Opposition’s part to hold the government accountable to alleviate the vexing issues, and enhance the well-being of their supporters.
