There is a dangerous arrogance behind Bharrat Jagdeo’s political calculations, an assumption that African-Guyanese voters are simple-minded, easily manipulated, and susceptible to token gestures and paid endorsements. But what Jagdeo and the PPP consistently fail to grasp is the depth, clarity, and historical memory of a people who have survived oppression, state violence, and decades of betrayal.
The PPP cannot win a national election without a significant portion of African-Guyanese support. And they know it. That’s why we’re witnessing a desperate scramble to parade former APNU supporters like, Richard Van West Charles, James Bond, Jermaine Figueira, and Thandi McAllister as symbols of diversity. They flood DPI and President Ali’s social media feeds with curated images of African Guyanese in a clumsy attempt to rewrite their narrative. But Guyanese see through the performance.
African-Guyanese are hospitable, tolerant, and respectful, but not blind. And certainly not politically naïve. They remember Mocha, the bulldozing of homes while children slept. They remember the extrajudicial murders of Ronald Waddell, Courtney Crum-Ewing, Yohance Douglas, and the countless others who lost their lives under PPP regimes that never delivered justice. They remember Mark Benschop, jailed for daring to speak out and no social media photo op or fly-by-night parading of ‘compromised Africans’ will erase that record.
Jagdeo can import all the PPP supporters he wants into Linden and other African-majority communities, but manufactured presence does not translate to authentic support. Voters in these communities are unmoved by public relations gimmicks and political stunts. They know what it looks like when power is used to punish, silence, intimidate and murder, especially Linden.
And now, in the face of the emerging threat of WIN; an Indo-led party drawing support from disillusioned PPP loyalists, the PPP is lashing out. They’ve activated their private sector enablers to go after WIN members. Why? Because they know the tide is turning. Afro-Guyanese voters are not shifting to PPP, they’re holding the line. Meanwhile, PPP’s own base is eroding.
Every opposition polling agent must remain vigilant. This election is too important. The PPP cannot be allowed to rig these elections as they’ve done in the past. The stakes are high; not just for political power, but for the future of Guyana itself.
If Guyana is to grow, if it is to truly become the inclusive, prosperous nation its people deserve, the corrupt PPP regime must go.
