Nandlall: Elections a straight race between PNC, PPP
“THIS is a straight race between the PNC (People’s National Congress) and the PPP (People’s Progressive Party). I would disregard the name change and the label of a coalition. My own view is that it is a faÇade. It is a charade. It is not rooted in reality or in pragmatism.”
This was the summation of Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, who stressed that this recognition by the Guyanese voters will be the deciding factor at the upcoming May 11 General and Regional elections.
“You had the PNC in Government, and you have a track [record] of 28 years to judge them by and you have the PPP in Government and you have a track record of 22 years to judge us by. It is as simple as that,” he said, during an interview, “Political Scope,” which was televised by the National Communications Network (NCN).
Nandlall reasoned that no rational mind will have any difficulty in making the decision, particularly considering that the facts are matters of public record.
“You had economic stagnation. You had bankruptcy. You had a national debt that was uncontrollable. You had banning of basic food items. You had taking away of democracy from the country. You had deprivation of freedoms and civil liberties….fast forward to 22 years of the PPP in Government and look around at the progress,” he stressed.
The Attorney-General noted that the progress, peace and prosperity delivered to the Guyanese people cannot be denied.
“I can go on to give a litany of data that will make the choice of who to vote for so pellucid and so clear that it boggles the rational mind as to why the voters should be confused,” he posited.
CONFIDENT OF WIN
Nandlall proffered the opinion that the manifestation of the provisions of the Cummingsburg Accord – which solidified the coalescing of the PNC-majority representing A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) – will not become a reality, as he is confident of a win for the incumbent party at the upcoming polls.
“I am of the view that they will not win the elections,” he said.
According to him, the nature of the alliance reflects a “fraud and farce,” since the provisions of the Cummingsburg Accord, specifically regarding constitutional posts, are contrary to the hierarchy of governance outlined in the Constitution.
Additionally, politicos maintain their contention that the smaller AFC trumped APNU in the outcome of their negotiations that are outlined in the Cummingsburg Accord.
Going into the coalition negotiations with the five-party APNU, the AFC controlled 21 per cent of the combined Opposition seats in Parliament, but came out with a guarantee of 40 per cent of the Cabinet, and at least 12 parliamentary seats, should they succeed at the upcoming polls.
APNU held 79 per cent of the Opposition seating arrangement in the House going into the negotiation.
Nandlall expressed his lack of optimism that these arrangements would become reality, on the off chance that the alliance did manage a win at the upcoming polls, given the PNC’s history with such arrangements.
“You have a dominant partner in this coalition, the PNC. The PNC has a history with coalitions…during the early 60s, Dr Cheddi Jagan made a number of efforts to build a national front government…on every occasion, the leader of the PNC, Forbes Burnham, rejected it. His problems with the PPP arose because of his position of leader or nothing…this position dominated the position of the PNC long after,” he said.
All considered, the Attorney General reiterated his confidence of a win for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) come May 11.
“They do not embrace [historically] coalition governments,” he stressed.
FACTS CANNOT CHANGE
Nandlall was emphatic in making clear that the facts that constitute Guyana’s political history cannot be changed.
“They do not want us to revisit the events of the past….after 28 years of struggle we managed to bring free and fair elections to the country…those elections were certified to be free and fair,” he said.
The Attorney General noted that despite the struggles, the atmosphere that prevailed was one marked by arson, strikes, riots, violence and racial disturbances, among other ills that affected the Guyanese people.
The gains that have been made and sustained to date, Nandlall asserted, must be consolidated and built on to ensure the future development of Guyana and, by extension, the improved lives of the Guyanese people.
“Their record, their philosophy, their antecedence, their history do not suggest they would embrace democratic concepts,” he said.
Nandlall concluded that the choice is clear, in the face of what is the most significant General and Regional Elections, since 1992, and the plethora of utterances by political players intended to influence the considerations of voters in their favour.