Thinking aloud, Clousseau feels it is necessary to state a reality that is too often overlooked or even truthfully recognised, and that is race in politics was never a consideration when the origin and formation of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was founded, from the very inception being a working class political party in the then British Guiana.

It was a natural bonding of interests between the two major members of the population that clamoured for the need of what the PPP was offering; race was never a factor and thus Clousseau is impelled to emphasise this reality.

It was a fortitudinous meeting of the two personalities, Jagan and Burnham, both with the burning desire of removing the shackles of colonisation by the British that propelled them both as national figures.

The break-up and parting was the catalyst that fermented what we have since been experiencing in today’s politics – racism.

Having thought aloud, Clousseau will now make some remarks on the recently concluded PNCR congress. Apparent incomprehension must be the state of mind for all those who harboured thoughts that Robert Corbin can be removed without his willing consent, even more astounding was the belief that a Indian alternative could have replaced him. It is simply a case of not knowing the principal basis on which that party relies. Disregarding all the charges, true or false, about rigging, etc., Corbin merely had to alert his loyalists to carry the message that the party is not yet ready for a non-African as leader. The defeat of Murray should not have been surprising and Clousseau regards it as a truthful bitter lesson to all those misguided enough to believe that the PNC/R will sincerely embrace non-Africans; just ask Mervyn Williams.

Then there is also the reality of what is left after the leadership fight. There will be many, whose tenure will be under threat and possible end of the road in dabbling with politics, but for those hapless pseudo-politicians, Clousseau has no pity; they would have learnt a hard lesson at some considerable loss.