Most, if not all, of the dangerous 28 years PNC elements are now firmly in bed with the PPP
Dear Editor,
The coalition has come well and alive. While it would appear the AFC has taken a massive political risk, unifying Guyana has never been an easy task, but if there has ever been a single act which can change the course of such a legacy, it would be the AFC’s decision to enter in this alliance in this way. The Coalition, of course, has chosen the more difficult and untested option of trying to reduce race voting, a plague blighting Guyana for over half a century. While I was quite critical in my last letter of an APNU led coalition, many former-PPP friends and colleagues have reassured me that although an AFC-led coalition is preferred, I should look closely to see where the much feared PNC legacy really dwells. The notorious House of Israel leader, Rabbi Washington, publicly known for breaking up opposition meetings and harming many individuals during the dictatorship years, was pardoned in the early 90s by this very PPP government. In 1992, Henry Jeffrey from the hardcore PNC regime joined the PPP and only left some years ago, perhaps after seeing enough of the PPP, post Cheddi Jagan. He has been a known element disrupting opposition meetings during the Burnham years. Odinga Lamumba, another of the hard-line PNC activist was bought over by the PPP at great cost, and continues to enjoy free reign over the government. In recent times, Bynoe from Linden, the former treason accused by this very government, was recruited and placed on the list of candidates for Linden for the PPP. Then there is Joseph Hamilton. Last elections he was brought over to the PPP with his entire family and made a senior government functionary. If I were to continue listing the wealth of PNC hardliners in the PPP, space in the letter column would be a limitation. All of these pardons and crossovers, and I only highlight a few above, comes with a price. The government gives them something, and they in turn reward the government with favours. And as tigers rarely lose their stripes, these characters must be offering their services at the price they were paid. So it is easy to conclude where most of the 28 years PNC led government officials reside, and they are at Robb Street. One only has to recall the Agricola 2012 protest which appeared to have been orchestrated by the opposition. The capacity and ability to mobilise and pay imported cap, sunshades and face-covering individuals to burn tyres, rob people and block the road was certainly not within the capacity of the opposition to do, it had to come from elsewhere! So voters in this year’s elections have an opportunity to make a life changing decisions this election. For their own betterment of decent jobs or wealth creation, their parents to retire comfortably, and their children to attend public schools and receive the highest quality of education at little cost with the potential to receive high quality tertiary education. The time for realising Guyana’s potential is within a few months’ reach. Alternatively voters can vote to continue the litany of ills society faces which benefits the notorious, wealth grabbing few. Ramesh Persaud
