That shady bond deal…AFC reneged on its promise to keep APNU in line – Goolsarran
The “composed and silent” position assumed by the Alliance For Change (AFC) on the alarming
Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsaran
nature of the controversial bond deal has led anti-corruption advocate Anand Goolsarran to say that the AFC has with its silence and attitude, reneged on its promise to the citizenry.
The former Auditor General recalled that it was the co-founder of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, now Minister of Natural Resources, who said during the election campaign trail that the AFC would serve as the check and balance for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
Trotman had stated, “We are in a coalition where we will act as a check and balance for each other, so if APNU misbehaves in any way we will pull them in line and vice versa and the people, most importantly, will not allow us to mess it up…”
Goolsarran said that some critics might want to pose the argument that the AFC may have found itself between a rock and a hard place when it comes to speaking on the controversial bond matter. Agreeing with the contention to some extent, he said that public disapproval and condemnation by the AFC might be seen as an attempt to weaken the coalition. He stressed, however, that the flipside to that state of affairs is the fact that AFC’s silence may very well be seen as one example of proof that it has been compromised and/or lost its strong political convictions.
“AFC’s silence on the situation is frustrating and disappointing. AFC was supposed to be the one keeping the party in line, and be the buffer against any form of excess. With that in mind, silence on the sole sourcing of a bond to store drugs for the nation is something one would expect would not sit well with the AFC.”
Goolsarran added, “But not a single statement it has said on the matter as a party, registering its disapproval.
WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds
What then has silenced this once unashamedly outspoken party? The situation is just disappointing to the electorate.”
Adding to the points made by Goolsarran was Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds.
He commented that it is not only the AFC but all the other parties which are silent. He made specific reference to the WPA as well as the People’s National Congress Reform.
The political activist asserted that none of the parties wants to appear to be undermining the government of which they are a part. This position he is an understandable one.
Dr. Hinds said, “If one party speaks unfavourably it would suggest instability in the ranks and could be exploited by the PPP. We have not developed a culture yet that balances self-criticism and support. So the parties in the coalition are in a bind; they are muzzled by our narrow political culture.”