Dear Editor,
The news has reported that Mr. Norton, Mr. Forde and Ms. Walton-Desir are running for the position of party leader of the PNC. This is akin to running to be captain of the Titanic.
After its dismal attempt to rig the 2020 elections while the whole world was watching, the PNC has branded itself forever as a party that would always attempt to rig to stay in power, as its Founder-Rigger Mr. Burnham has done for 28 years and pauperizing Guyana in the process. Guyana has had too much trauma with rigging in the Burnham/Hoyte years, and the attempted rigging in 2020 solidifies that the PNC will use “any means necessary” to hold on to power.
And “Older” Green’s remarks at a party training that it’s OK to rig for only the descendants of slaves to be “pan tap” does not help the reputation of the PNC. Mr. Green contends that only Afro-Guyanese deserves to run Guyana and that the Opposition should keep rigging national elections to keep the PPP out of office. He has since apologized.
None of the candidates running for party leader has condemned the statement by “Older” Green. That will not win crossover votes in an election. Without crossover votes, the PNC cannot win an election with its traditional voting bloc. It will be condemned to the benches of the Opposition, as it has nothing to offer Guyanese. In a news article, “Norton defends Green’s irresponsible, reckless comments about electoral rigging (Chronicle, Feb. 23, 2024), Mr. Norton was cited as saying Mr. Green’s remarks were taken out of context. There was no condemnation.
The Public would like to know whether the 3 candidates for Party Leader still believe the President was “installed.” Can the 3 candidates tell us what is their position on rigging? Is it OK for the PNC to rig to get into power? The Candidates must say whether they believe in and would work hard to renegotiate the bad oil contract signed by the PNC+AFC so that the country will get tons of additional cash to fund projects across Guyana. Mr. Norton does not seem to favour renegotiation. We don’t know Mr. Forde and Ms. Walton-Desir’s position on renegotiation.
A recent letter by Egland Gomes is cause for alarm (“Time to elect new credible leadership for the PNCR,” KN, May 28, 2024). Gomes feels that things are not going well under current leadership. The younger Mr. Forde has done much legal work for the PNC, and comes over as more “polished.” The young, likeable Ms. Walton-Desir may also prove attractive to the women delegates. Women do the heavy lifting in the PNC.
But whomever is elected, the PNC is destined to be in the Opposition for a long time, as it does not command trust from any other small parties in existence to form any kind of coalition. The AFC may go it alone in 2025. The PPP seems to be gaining ground in winning crossover votes from the PNC given its development efforts in those communities. The PNC’s refusal to participate in the Independence Day celebrations in Linden is disappointing as the Venezuelans are noticing our divisions. The PNC, as is, is quite uninspiring, and new, progressive leadership may be what it needs to improve its performance.
Sincerely,
M. Singh
The post PNC candidates vying for party leader is like running to be captain of Titanic appeared first on Guyana Times.