What Roopnarine and Nagamootoo have in common
BOTH men were heavily involved in their respective parties (WPA-PPP) and PCD; both contributed to the demise of the PCD. Roopnarine gave wrong advice to his WPA and departed the PCD; Nagamootoo gave wrong advice to his party and destroyed what was left of the PCD after WPA left.
Neither men were THE LEADERS; one followed Dr. Walter Rodney and the other Dr. Cheddi Jagan. After the death of their respective leaders, they were incapable of taking the mantle of their respective parties. They both got cold feet. But that is the story of A Leader.
Both men decided to follow another leader who is still to prove that he is THE LEADER; Brigadier David Granger. Roopnarine insists that he is a ‘Rodneyite’, and each year since 1980, he gives a speech on June 13 entitled, “Rodney Lives”. Nagamooto walks around with a photo of Cheddi and Janet, and insists that he is a ‘Jaganite’. He would like to be at Babu John on March 7 each year, but since 2011, he is afraid to show his face.
Of course, Granger makes it pelucidly clear that he is a ‘BURNHAMITE’. So, both Roopnarine and Nagamotoo are now ‘Burnhamites’.
They both were promised to be Prime Ministers as long as they can deliver Indian votes. Roopnarine failed, and he was abruptly fired. He is now replaced by another ‘Indo’ who has more bravado than Roopnarine. He promised 12 Indian seats; that is about 60,000 Indian votes. Even the ‘Afros’ in the leadership of AFC will vote PNC. There is no space on the ballot that will say AFC, so my guess is as good as anyone else’s.
Nagamotoo got Granger to agree to a set of non-constitutional, and gentleman’s agreement. The British invented a gentlemen agreement to stab their opponents in the back. We all remember MR DUNCAN SANDYS. We also must remember Vincent Teekah. Burnham made the mistake and let the cat out of the bag that he was thinking; remember, only thinking, of making Vincent Teekah Prime Minister. He got a bullet in his belly and a grinding foot on his wound. That man is still on the team that will return to power if Granger wins. Should Granger win the elections, this man and others will never, never, allow the likes of Nagamootoo to be Prime Minister. Or if he does, for some extraordinary and illogical reason, then he will implement ‘a known Burnham practice’. You get a title; whatever you want to call yourself. You get an office, and a desk, but nothing to do. Everybody passes by your door and does not even nod in your direction. Nagamootoo, like Rupert Roopnarine, will speak to large Afro-Guyanese meetings during the elections, and help consolidate those votes for Granger. Nagamootoo, like Roopnarine, will be a Prima Dona until the elections is over on May 11.
Both Roopnarine and Nagamotoo were spin doctors for their parties; they both tell us Nancy Stories at every twist and turn. They actually listen to themselves and believe what they hear.
Editor, what is it about some of us humans? Some of us will do anything to be a Minister or Powerless Prime Minister. This elections is as good as an Italian Opera.
MOHAMED Z. RAHAMAN
