(Eyewitness)With elections for the PNC’s leadership in the offing, some people might’ve missed the hot and sweaty (dirty??) talk and action between the said PNC and the AFC about tying the knot before the next general elections. As all Guyanese know by now, for the last three years the two Opposition parties have been issuing deep sighs over “what might’ve been”.
More specifically, if they’d hopped into bed before the 2011 elections, they might’ve captured the Executive to get their dirty little hands on the Consolidated Funds. After all, hadn’t Raphael Trotman, co-leader of the AFC, argued just this point to Ramjattan? But Ramjattan, couldn’t miss HIS shot at being Presidential Candidate, could he??!!
The struggle became so bitter that Trotman announced his withdrawal from politics – on account of some mysterious and life threatening “medical condition”. Many who’d supported Trotman’s proposal for a pre-election nuptial with the PNC, remained – but sulking. Of course, when the PNC offered the Speaker’s Chair to Trotman – saying he was “more trustworthy” that Ramjattan’s nominee, Nagamootoo – Trotman had a miraculous recovery!! It just confirmed there was more in the mortar than the pestle.
But even though Ramjattan had sanctimoniously announced the AFC would “work with both the PPP and PNC” based on issues, the logic of Ramjattan’s hunger for power, inevitably pushed him into Granger’s arms. So recently we had the government acceding to APNU’s demands for them to sign the AML/CTF Bill, but the latter reneging. As Granger’s point man, Winston Felix, explained the AFC’s demands hadn’t been met! When it comes to the lovebirds PNC and AFC, it’s all for one and one for all!
But will the upcoming PNC leadership beauty contest have any effect on this budding romance?? The question, of course, is whether Norton can snatch the leadership from Granger. This Eyewitness believes that if the elections are “free and fair”, Norton stands as good a chance as any to become the PNC’s new leader.
The biggest asset he brings to the table is he’s a dyed-in-the-wool, PNC man. YSM nurtured, serving at all levels in the party – he displayed his grassroots, grounded approach in Linden at the last elections. Domestically, he’s earned his PNC spurs way ahead of Granger. And in this era of globalisation, being the only PNCite with some solid Foreign Affairs credentials, can’t hurt.
Looks like Ramjattan had better start casting some coy glances at Norton!!!
