OLD KAI has been quietly observing yet another farce of a congress by the People’s National Congress/Reform, and it comes as no surprise that yet again, there have been reports of gunshots being fired, members being verbally and physically abused, fraudulent elections, delegates cards for even persons vying for leadership positions mysteriously disappearing from Congress Place on the morning of the elections, and leadership contenders challenging the incumbency becoming ultimately frustrated and walking away from the process.For many this may be the last time they ever set foot in Congress Place, such was the case at the last Congress and the one before that, and the one before that. One PNC/R member was quoted in the media as saying “the party bruck up.”
Now how does this relate to the People’s Progressive Party and its enhanced importance to all the people of Guyana you may ask?
The simply answer is discipline and stability.
Those two words could never be used to describe the PNC and all its name changes over time, but based on the occurrences at this most recent congress, and as has been observed by its membership, there has been a total breakdown of discipline and it has now become a free for all. All the hallmarks of a Wild West environment have come to the fore with gunshots to add a touch of legitimacy.
We simply have to assess all the damage this erratic party has managed to inflict on Guyanese with assistance from its chief conspirator, the AFC, which also has challenges with party discipline, ever since they teamed up to use their one seat majority in the National Assembly over the PPP/C.
They have even admitted this much, when their leadership referred to Guyanese as ‘collateral damage’.
They have done everything in their power to harm the expansion of our economy and pile on the pressure on Guyanese, hoping citizens will blame the Government and not the Opposition.
Their conduct has been nothing short of irresponsible and reckless in dealing with the nation’s business, but this is not surprising, as everyone is trying to outdo the other to gain an upper hand and the crabs in a barrel analogy is probably the most appropriate. No one will ever win with this approach.
Simply look at the aftermath of what occurred at Congress Place as a microcosm of what is occurring nationally. Even though Granger maintained an iron grip and emerged the winner, he also became the loser as no doubt the many empty chairs he was addressing at the opening of their Congress indicates that the rot is creeping in.
Granger preaches about national unity and a national unity government; but can we imagine, based on how he and his grouping have treated their own supporters, what will be the end result for all Guyanese?
What Guyanese are feeling is really the effects of the crumbling political infrastructure of the Opposition, more specifically the PNCR, as the AFC had none to begin with.
On the other hand, the PPP must be credited for running a disciplined and grounded political party, even more so having been in Government for over 22 years. Stable political leadership is the only solution to advancing the development of our country and our citizens as it mirrors what will ultimately be the result at a national level.
This is something both the PNC/R-APNU or the AFC cannot provide; worse yet, were they to merge, which seems inevitable, as two persons drowning, they will ultimately clutch onto each other and will both go down.
Therefore for supporters and non-supporters alike, the People’s Progressive Party is needed more than ever at this point in our history, to guide this nation forward with its stable hands and tried and tested leadership, away from the murky waters where the PNCR and the AFC seem intent on taking us.