Once, Guyana’s politics was rooted in principle. It was a space where convictions mattered and leaders stood firm not for position but for people. Today, that ideal feels like a relic. What we are witnessing ahead of the 2025 elections is not the evolution of democracy but the corrosion of political integrity. Opportunism is no longer discreet. It is proudly on display.
Gone are the days when party loyalty was shaped by shared vision and grounded in community. Now we see politicians switching allegiances with startling ease, not because of deep ideological shifts but for personal advancement. Parliamentarians and insiders who once stood tall under one banner now rush to embrace their former opponents. The language is familiar: growth, evolution, democracy. But beneath the surface lies a stark truth. These moves are not about principle. They are about power.
Every defection has a cost. For every politician who grabs a new platform, a loyal foot soldier is pushed aside. These are the individuals who walked the villages, attended every meeting, handed out flyers, carried the message. Their sacrifices are now rendered invisible as ambition takes center stage.
GHK Lall put this betrayal into sharp focus. The defectors get the headlines, the handshakes, the photo ops. But those displaced are forgotten. Their names are never called. Their years of service vanish without a trace. This is not an exaggeration. It is the quiet reality for countless grassroots workers watching the game change without them.
And what about the young activist, the committed party member who toiled without favour or connection, hoping that dedication would be enough? They now see the rules rewritten. Their place is no longer secure, not because they failed but because someone more politically useful has arrived. What lesson are we teaching the next generation? That principle is a liability and proximity to power is the only currency that counts?
Let us be honest. Political realignment can be part of democratic life. Views evolve. People grow. But what we are witnessing is not principled change. These are strategic moves made with cold calculation, not conscience. They are timed to deliver maximum advantage to the few while sidelining the many.
This culture sends the wrong signal. It tells the country that betrayal is a virtue if it comes with a press release. That ambition is courage when it is really self-interest. And that those who stay loyal, who serve quietly and consistently, are expendable.
GHK Lall said it best. Some political soldiers get medals. Others get a pat on the back that is just inches away from a boot in the backside.
This must stop. Guyana cannot build a future on the backs of opportunists who abandon one cause today and embrace another tomorrow for convenience. The country must stop applauding floor-crossers and start questioning them. Leadership must be grounded in purpose, not in performance.
The country is watching. The people are taking note. And history, as always, will deliver the final reckoning.
