Dear Editor
Please permit me space in your medium to express my personal unbiased views related to an episode which occurred in our country one year plus and other burning issues.
On the 21st December, 2018, a coalition Member of Parliament (MP) voted against his entity and a ‘one man’ no confidence vote was passed. Fast forward, the coalition government, APNU/AFC should have been out of office, I do not like to use the word power, within three months of the passing that ‘one man’ NCM and the election should have been called within that three months as claimed by the caretaker opposition.

One year after, the supporters of the opposition still comment on a daily basis in the print media relevant to that episode. Those who are reliant daily on the print media must realise that winning a battle does not mean that you have won the war, especially in our case where the head of the present government, who you are fighting is a trained brigadier soldier who was trained in the rules of engagement.

Those who wish to tell themselves that I am a coalition man are making a mistake. What has happened within the last year has already happened and I am just reminding persons of how it was and how it is.

Mahadas Karamchand Gandhi said, and I quote “In a democratic society, people are not like sheep one behind the other, individual liberty and freedom of opinion is zealously guarded…” unquote.

Everyday persons of the PPP calibre write criticising anything expressed by persons of the coalition. It would seem and I have the gut feeling that the conceptualisation that the ‘Jagdeoite’ factors in the PPP feel that Afro Guyanese don’t have the mental equilibrium to say or discuss anything of an educative nature. Now, I know persons have already come to the conclusion that I am lobbying for Granger…far from it, because I have lived through the period of Burnham and Cheddi’s presidency and I don’t have to be in one’s party to admire some of their political moves.

Let us take Cheddi. How many of us know that when he was President he would tell his ministers when they are coming to Cabinet meetings they must walk with snacks because the people wouldn’t supply them with food on those occasions. There are journalists who write every day or regularly in the media but how many people in the streets would or can follow the ‘big’ words they write in their quest for self-importance.
Why I use ‘Cheddi’ as an example; PPP leader who stood out all he cared about was the people and their welfare and I am saying all the Guyanese people. Maybe because he was a socialist.

We have come such a long way from the founder fathers of the nation – Burnham, Jagan and D’Aguiar. They are the founder fathers because it was they and their delegations who went to Lancaster House in England. They stood before Duncan Sandy, the Colonial Secretary, and made their demand and were successful in my country, your country, our country attaining independence and British Guiana became independent Guyana on the 26th May 1966.

Independence did not come easy, we the foot soldiers of the PNC, PPP and UF stood our grounds on the streets, confronting the Colonial soldiers, some of who were the argilies, queens, fugualers, the Worchester regiment and the ‘black watch’, they were Scottish and wore kilt skirts. I am a Guyanese and would not exchange my nationality for any other. I am proud of being Guyanese and have always been proud of being Guyanese.
It has been years now approximately 40 years since my 11brothers and sisters living in the USA keep inviting me to come and live there. This I tell them, “I am a first class citizen of Guyana and regardless of our racial differences … not political, I can live with any party in government (and it will always be PNC/PPP) for another 50 years. Speaking with one of my brothers, who is a ‘big one’ in the Democratic Part of America, this is what he said, “I do hope that with the production of oil Guyanese will have some degree of true independence.”

I have said a lot here in my quest of sharing my unleased opinion and in conclusion, to those who have faith in our political shenanigans after all, I remind you what J.F. Kennedy said, “Bad politicians are put in power by the good people who stay home…” On election day in March 2020, regardless of which party you vote for, go and vote.

I close by saying, this is not going to be just another election, it will be the elections of all elections and to you politicians who feel that it’s your ego or destiny that matters, think of our populace, or people deserve a new deal in life. The opportunity has been there and has always been there since May 2015 (when it was legally discovered). Yes, you big politicians, it is not you but we the people who matters and if you have any sinister motives remember what Ghandi said “an eye for an eye makes the world goes blind.”

In the fight for independence the youth arm of the three main political parties were Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO – still there after all these years), People’s National Congress Youth Organisation (PNCYO) and the Guyana United Youth Society. I am proud to be a member of that organisation which was not nominated by any one race and I mean nominated by any race…maybe that is why when I see Gail Teixeira she remind me of the most memorable days in my political life and maybe, just maybe that is why who knows of my political involvement still call me “The last Putagee”.

Regards
Murtland Slugger Williams