This is the largest turnout at a funeral parlor for a Guyanese-American in New York City that I've seen. Friday night at the Leahy Funeral parlor on Atlantic and 111 St in Richmond Hill, Queens, NY saw lots of Guyanese including a lot of AFC supporters. Churchill got into a heated debate with some PPP diehards.
There was a private AFC gathering featuring those close to Lionel Peters who traveled to New York to pay their respects - Attorneys Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan and Dr. Verasammy Ramaya.
It is clear that the AFC believes in what I would call "soft power" to advance its cause against poor governance by the PPP/C. The Parliamentary maneuver of a vote of no-confidence is just part of the tools at its disposal. For this it requires the collaboration of an adversary, the APNU.
The AFC clearly disavows street protests of any situation that would lead to physical confrontation. It also clearly has no business with a pre-poll coalition with the APNU. That said, it's Parliamentary maneuver is not so much politics breeding strange bedfellows but a necessary tactic to terminate the current PPP/C government and have elections in early January at the latest.
Interestingly this is the only political party that has had a member of both major races as its Presidential candidates. For the next election cycle Moses Nagamootoo will be the Presidential Candidate. The AFC, its 3rd party status notwithstanding is aiming for a majority vote even if that means 34% to 33% each for the other two main parties.
One theme that permeates the AFC's crusade is the misappropriation of State assets and unconstitutional use of the Treasury, especially in government contracts and general procurement. The action against Dr. Ashni Singh, the Finance Minister, against spending it deems to be ultra vires is one such action. The vote of no-confidence is another.
It was interesting to see the confluence of tributes to Lionel Peters from PPP supporters as well as the AFC. It was the largest crowd at a funeral parlor (where my neighbor works) for a Guyanese-American that I've witnessed.
