AFC/APNU = A Partnership for non-stop attacks against Guyanese

THE political Opposition in Guyana has the unenviable record of attacking all segments of the Guyanese population ever since they attained a one-seat combined majority in the National Assembly after the 2011 general elections.The reality is that even their own hard-core supporters have felt the brunt of their arrogance and obsession with attaining power at all cost.
To rephrase it: Power seems to make them drunk with arrogance.

 Guyana is not sleep-walking into narco-statehood; but rather David Granger usually goes to sleep when his people attempt to get the criminals to escape justice.

How else can one explain the remarks of APNU’s front man on all things finance, Carl Greenidge, before the start of the budget presentation that it will be a ‘blood war’ in the National Assembly?  This man was making reference to the benefits contained in the budget for our citizens; so in effect, he was declaring war on Guyanese.
Old Kai never expected that he and his colleagues would eventually give meaning to his threats against our people. The people on the island of Leguan were all reduced to ‘grass cutters’ by Moses Nagamootoo.
They then ridiculed allocations to the rice and sugar industries with veiled threats of cutting them; and in so doing, tried to indicate that sugar workers were not deserving of efforts to save their industry. In fact, they publicly articulated a plan to close the entire industry. We know that sugar workers decided to take a stand and put a stop to their plans when they turned out in their hundreds outside of Parliament.
After they did not get through with this plan, they turned their attention to Amerindians. Both David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo stood up in Parliament and insinuated that Amerindians were apparently not smart enough to decipher between a ‘toy’ and ‘real benefits’ to their communities.
In fact, they rubbished the plans which were formulated by Amerindian leaders for their communities and, which were funded by the PPP/C Government by cutting the Amerindian Development Fund to the tune of over $1B.
Let us also remember that the AFC, in the latter part of 2013, had ridiculed and attempted to cut an initiative by the Government to provide transportation on both land and water to take hinterland students to their schools. This was aimed at making it easier on their parents and the students themselves in accessing education.
Yet again, the aviation sector (one of the fastest growing sectors in Guyana) was targeted with the Opposition voting down provisions to upgrade airstrips across the country, especially in the hinterland, and the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
This was the very Opposition which complained of high costs to persons travelling by air around Guyana; but by their refusal to support the rehabilitation of airstrips, they are only contributing to the problem rather than supporting the solution by the Government.
Not satisfied, they launched a tirade against our business community, the very people they turn to for financial support for their political activities. Guyana has thousands of businesses in all categories and sectors. The business sector has expanded dramatically ever since 1992 when the PPP/C was returned to Government. These people have persevered through the tough times; they have worked hard for the success they currently enjoy. Many entrepreneurs, both young and old, are also taking a risk in venturing into business these days; they see opportunities and are willing to make the effort. The easy access to loans and low interest rates to finance ventures is also a contributory factor. Efforts by agencies such as Go-Invest to lure foreign investors to our country also play a part. Those who did well in the mining sector are now also using their profits to venture into other sectors to invest in. Many overseas-based Guyanese are now returning to our shores to invest their savings.
The buildings going up all around us across Guyana is testament to this fact. For the Opposition to now question the legitimacy of the investments of these people and imply that they are involved in the drug trade or money laundering is a most heinous attack on this important segment of our population. No one is denying that there may not be instances of shady dealings of a few businesses, but to paint everyone with the same brush is unfair. It is also a fact that many of the leaders in the Opposition have businesses or business interests. So are they saying that they themselves are involved in narco-trafficking? Let us not forget that infamous conversation between Basil Williams and Winston Felix where reference was made to the disappearance of a large sum of foreign currency from Congress Place; so maybe Mr. Granger knows what he is talking about after all, but wants to shift or distract by pointing fingers at others.
Let us also not forget that it is the lawyers associated with the Opposition who are usually the first to turn up at the Police Station when someone has been arrested on drug-related cases, and represent them in the Courts.
So Guyana is not sleep-walking into narco-statehood; but rather David Granger usually goes to sleep when his people attempt to get the criminals to escape justice.
Ole People always seh when you point a finger at someone, three does be pointing back at you.
Thus, when the Opposition talks about transparency, accountability, corruption, narco-trade, and discrimination etc., it is important to remember this Guyanese adage.
In any case, if they were seriously interested in these issues, they would have long supported the Anti-Money Laundering Amendment Bill.
Their continued refusal to support the amendment is causing great hardships on businesses who have publicly complained of the difficulties they now experience with foreign financial transactions, and this will only increase the longer we take to pass the legislation.
Recall also, that it was the Opposition which voted to cut a $6B subvention for the Guyana Power and Light Company last year, in order to prevent a 22% tariff increase on its customers. It was not only PPP/C supporters who would have had to pay this increase, but AFC and APNU supporters as well. But did the Opposition care? No, they didn’t!
Old Kai is however heartened that Guyanese are now finding their voices; it started with the sugar workers and then Amerindians. Recently, I also observed those in the Aviation sector speaking up. More Guyanese need to follow suit and send a clear message to the Opposition that we will not allow them to make our future a ‘collateral damage’.