IF one is to peruse the history of politics in Guyana, one will notice instances of all kinds of comical displays. These particular coming elections will be no different. The AFC will be following the tradition of the DLM, ROAR, JFA etc. The only difference this time is that the AFC has taken ‘low’ to an unprecedented and abysmal low.

First, this fledgling gathering, led by an unpopular Khemraj Ramjattan, is like the proverbial ‘headless chicken.’ There are a lot of confused fluttering, bedlamish noise, and circuitous motions. What this really means is that the AFC may have activities, but not accomplishments, movements, but not directions, and speeches, but not messages. This comes as no surprise. After all, the birth and short, troubled life of the AFC has been characterised by a series of implosions based on personal vendetta, leadership crisis, senseless strategies, and a lack of vision for Guyana. So when evil schemes emanate from this shaky and shady entity, no one is surprised. Here is how it operates.

Currently, but luckily to very small and uninterested gatherings, the AFC is peddling the jocular myth that the PPP is currently going against the very things Cheddi Jagan fought against while it was in the opposition. The AFC is seeking to foist on the people, the fabricated idea that the PPP is abusing state resources for party purposes. This inane line by the AFC is quite ludicrous. First, of all people, Ramjattan is arrogating to himself way too much credibility and authority. How stupid can one be in saying what is happening in another’s house, when members of the said house are refuting it? This is analogous to what all and sundry of the enemies’ camp did when Mr. Donald Ramotar was elected presidential candidate. This sat well with the PPP, but not with those who were on the outside. Just ask: whose business it is? Secondly, it seems rather hypocritical that Ramjatan will only now say what the PPP is doing. Ramjattan has been for a longer time with the ruling PPP than he has been with his innocuous AFC. So how come only now, after his expulsion from the PPP, he is finding fault? He should really explain this contradiction. Maybe, he is where he is, simply because he was trying to do personally that which he is now trying to paint the PPP with; thus his ejection.

By way of reiteration, the Ramjattans, the AFCs and others at large must be reminded that with the present ruling regime, Guyanese are not subjected to the humiliation of having to produce party cards in order to obtain basic services and preferential treatment. Also, security personnel are not compelled to be in servitude to the political directorate and ruling party like Granger was (just look at how Ogunseye was confident with his ‘kith and kin’ inflammatory statement).  When one goes around Guyana, there is no preponderance of party flags flown on public buildings. One would think that this is enough, but there is more.

In keeping with transparency and accountability, The PPP/C has more publicly announced fund raisers than any other political party. And these are well supported. Even when it was in opposition, and thwarted by the then PNC regime, it remained self-sufficient throughout its 28 years in opposition. So what does one say to this?

First, it seems plausible (especially from a psychological angle), that those PPP rejects only became so, when the evil they now accuse PPP of, were noticed in them, and thus their ejection. So what is happening is that they are spouting vendetta, by seeking to besmirch and vitiate. Secondly, under the aegis of the PNC, the opposition was virtually shut out. Under the PPP/C, there is access to the media and freedom to speak. Also, the PPP/C’s composition, as a whole debunks claims to partisan politics, race and marginalisation. Ramjattan is not the first, and will not be the last: many will be the schemers, liars and cavaliers.