The Observer
THE Alliance For Change (AFC) knows no bounds in its political adventurism, but most shocking of all is its attempt to score cheap political points with its normal strategically-structured divisive tactics.

However, this latest foray defies explanation in its sheer magnitude of inhumane and indecent politicking at the expense of national cohesion in the face of a great tragedy of a fellow Caribbean state.

The President of our nation has requested a national response to the catastrophe that has befallen Haiti. With great magnanimity the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin, has responded with immediacy, along with stakeholders across all the divides in the nation.

This is not a time for differences. Great human tragedy has befallen our fellow humans.

It is a time to come together to proffer whatever help this nation can garner – collectively.

One remembers the Mahaica flood relief effort of years gone by, when an aspiring politician became a multi-millionaire overnight, and one wonders if this is a similar ploy to garner elections funds.

More and more the divisive tactics of the AFC in its bid to acquire additional membership is coming to light. However, this is the ultimate low.

In an interview at the Little Rock Television Station last Tuesday, President Jagdeo spoke about this dangerous strategy of the AFC to garner support, which they hope will translate into votes.

He said that Raphael Trotman goes into Linden and tell the people there that the Government only supports the rice and sugar industries, with its racial connotation, disregarding the fact that the Government has been subsidizing Region 10 to the tune of billions of dollars.

Then Ramjattan goes to the rice and sugar producing areas to tell the Indian communities that the Government only spend money on Region 10 and does not care for sugar workers and rice farmers, yet when the Government tries to provide more money to stabilize the sugar industry Ramjattan objects and walks out of Parliament, which President Jagdeo refers to as speaking with forked-tongues.

To win the Amerindian votes they send someone else to tell the hinterland communities that Government only looks after the interests of the two major races in the country.

According to Guyana’s President, this despicable strategy is a ploy to create further divides in our nation – divide and rule, which is bound to fail, because Guyanese are much wiser today.

Haiti’s tragedy is being used as another platform to wrest a questionable victory. However, if one wants to know the real reason for this ostensible offer to generate help for tragedy-struck Haiti, they should ask one Prakash Persaud, because he seems to have many files on some major players in the AFC, none of which generates trust.

A poor nation is in crisis. This is a time of coming together. It is a call that President Jagdeo made on the very day, just prior to the massive earthquake that hit Haiti, so he was inviting a consensual approach to national problem-resolution, with differences addressed respectfully, with national good the ultimate goal.

All Guyanese should heed the call of both President Jagdeo and Robert Corbin, to join forces to help a stricken neighbor. In so doing we may heal our own wounds. Maybe the tragedy that befell Haiti is a wake-up call for us to count our blessings and not to court God’s wrath with unending and unnecessary strife that is dividing the nation.

AFC should also heed this call and restrict, or halt entirely, its divisive tactics to score political points by driving wedges in the nation.