AS a citizen of our great and beautiful country, I decided to come out and breathe the magnificence of my country on Nominations Day. I wanted to witness the thrill, the excitement, the euphoria, the peace, the vibrations and motivations to and from the political throngs of various political units. I wanted to smell the air and taste what my country has to offer me and us as citizens of this country, to feel the energy of greatness and fortune that we enjoy in Guyana.

I passed the gathering points of various parties and mingled with the people and saw zeal and love for their various leaders, much like worshipping the Gods of earth energised many to the frenzy as if libation to the spirits of the ancestors

I felt happy at the peace and tolerance we have, the goodwill that exists in this country.  I gave praise to God Almighty for that.  In many countries people are denied the right to vote, we had that for many years of Burnham’s rule also, when people were terrified and beaten at the then political opposition rallies, many were beaten and jailed, and denied their vote.  But from the juncture when Desmond Hoyte took power, the political mode changed, fear disappeared and to this day, no one has to be afraid of attending their favourite party’s rally, or fundraiser, or any activity.  We witness democracy as it should be and as it should be tasted.

I celebrate what we have because in so many countries people are killed when they go to vote, bullets scattered on living citizens wishing to exercise their franchise or just to register to vote.  With good governance and a professional Police Force, we do not have bombs exploding, killing tens and even hundred(s), as we see in what has been caused in Iraq; never a day without some dozens being killed.  In Afghanistan it is the same.  In Libya it will be the same, as tyrants posing as freedom fighters now rule, as in Iraq now.  They will never be able to curb sectarianism and divisions/tribalism.  I imagined Rwanda, Africa, Somalia, Sierra Leone, African Congo, and others there, where children are kidnapped, made child soldiers and killer machines, turning female children into sex slaves; where opposition elements are eliminated, as we saw in Kenya when Raila Odinga won the elections and the incumbent refused to hand over power.  We see constantly in Pakistan, where at election time hundreds are murdered at a time, similar to Afghanistan, even in remote villages in India, it is known that certain religious fanatics prevent others from voting, and political opportunists and thugs scare away the opposition.

With the above in my mind reflecting, I breathed a sigh of relief and happiness that I live in a country like Guyana, governed by a president and government committed to democracy, and I smile even brighter, seeing the tens of thousands, like sand on the beach, knowing in my heart and mind, that the dark days of the despotic Burnham dictatorship, ‘rigamania,’ and jailing of opposition elements, and beating of opposition members can never happen again in this country.  I lived through the Burnhamite era of political intolerance and pains and its banning of food, milk, onion, garlic, sardines, grapes, apples, cooking oil, and even bread.  The banning of bread, butter and cheese virtually criminalised a nation.  I saw what they did to people in the Corentyne during that rule of Forbes Burnham. It was a time when I hated that political party and leader.

Those days are gone and we the people would like to see which leader of this country and government that would try to do such things again, as even I Ambassador of Peace will revolt and lead people against it.  Alas, this is unnecessary for we are blessed with tranquility, goodwill and understanding. It is blessed to live in Guyana.  We must never allow love of a party to drive any of us to excesses.  Love for any leader should never drive any of us to hurt anyone.  Let us bask in the joy that Guyana and Guyanese are free, and in Guyana we can vote, once the criteria are met.  People of Guyana, ensure you vote, and vote with wisdom, not race, but principles, opportunities and development.  Spit in the face of anyone who is political and preaches division, race and hate.  They are for the dustbins.

I also watched as the PPP/C contingent arrived at City Hall, with their massive crowd, and energised souls.  They screamed nothing nasty about anyone, but broadcast loudly the love for their leader and their party, as any other.  Their marshalls controlled their crowds proudly and with discipline.  None jumped City Hall’s fence or crashed the gate.  The leaders stood by the gate as gentlemen and Ladies of Character, with their supporters screaming and enjoying their moment.  The leaders walked into City Hall cool, brave with confidence.  They returned to Freedom House with the frenzy and joy they had left with.  I listened to the presentations and then left to return to City Hall.

I waited by the main gate in Regent Street, with some ladies inside of the fence, and again smelled the atmosphere and enjoyed the fortune we as Guyanese have, and raised that idea with the ladies there and they agreed that we are blessed and fortunate.  No one is being attacked as in the past, and as in other countries. Then came the AFC, with their few hundred supporters, being the smallest of the big political power brokers.  I counted about 200 people, but they were loud in praising their mission and their leader, and cussing down President Jagdeo and Ramotar.  One Afro-Guyanese man of the AFC kept coming near my ears screaming, as if with such stupidity I can switch from a party I love, to the AFC, not being smart enough to even think  I may already be supporting them.  If I had been a supporter though, because of his childish behaviour, I would have fired the AFC.  Such kinds of mass hysteria do indeed make some people behave amateurish and stupid, if I may say so.  Others would chat with me, and we would share views and respect, some offered me t-shirts of the AFC, which I declined in respect.  Others we would hug and respect. My friend Moses Nagamootoo waved on seeing me and raised a clenched fist and chest full of bravado.  I acknowledged him in respect.  Their leaders stood also by the entrance and waved to their supporters, and in a dignified manner walked in maturity.  They departed with their music and swagger of joy, as if in ecstasy.

A few brave, small parties or persons entered without fanfare and without even being noticed.  Some said hello and I acknowledged them.  I continued to stand and enjoy our fortune of peace and harmony blessed with the freedom to choose.

Arrival of APNU (Their marshalls failed them):  Amidst loud music, fervour and power, APNU approached, the crying, wailing, music and screaming were deafening, but to their spectators waiting for them and they themselves, it was like arrival of the Gods.  Some in City Hall near the fence got excited on seeing Mr. Corbin and Mr. Granger; one lady actually started an Elvis Presley sexual kind of gyration, for about 10 minutes, and even went into a semi-shock and was in a few minutes drenched in sweat amidst heaving breathing.  Another called for a photo of Granger from inside the City Hall fence as if suddenly in addiction. Some unfortunately scaled the fence, but others near me, I stopped telling them that it looks undignified and makes the party look bad.

The mass gyrations on the road continued for quite a while, and unfortunately, while I stood in awe and respect,  few not  knowing me properly taunted me, or j
ust merely being rude, were screaming near my ears about Ramotar being corrupt (poor man never had a political office other than MP, never held public office).  But Ramotar and President Jagdeo got some good public cuss out in the usual Guyanese political style to which we are accustomed, and I found it entertaining and interesting as being part of our political culture.

As Granger and Corbin with Roopnarine and others approached the entrance,  the crowd of enthused, gyrating supporters pressed on them.  It is obvious that the leaders lost control of the crowd, as pushing came from the rear, maybe not realising they were supposed to stop. The crowd like a sea of people caused a mad rush into City Hall, and all who should have stayed outside wanted to be in the compound, preventing the mass of supporters on the road from seeing their leaders; even with my height and with stretching on my toes I could not see them.  The screaming and senseless noise expected from unruly crowds caused the APNU to lose much in decorum, wisdom and gait as was set by the Late and Great Hugh Desmond Hoyte, who once walked in City Hall with few near him, most elegantly, to hand in his nomination.  Are those days truly gone from the PNC/APNU?  Granger had to squeeze himself on the balcony to shake his hands in goodwill to the people, and if I am not wrong, he recognised me at the gate and waved at me also, as I reciprocated to the gentleman.  As a free thinker I wish to state that I personally see Mr. Granger as a gentleman, for I am not a political animal, controlled by anyone.  Even my hate for the PNC went with the arrival of Desmond Hoyte as its leader.

Many of my former employees, some returning to support and vote for APNU and some current ones, males and females, came and hugged me as I hugged back and we cheek-kissed (with the appropriate sex of course), and hugged my brotherly friends who recognized me as a professional and one who tries to live an honourable life, with love and respect for all.

I believe the marshalls who were responsible for crowd control failed APNU and caused loss of respect for the party, despite what the spokesperson may say, as I was there.  The marshalls should have had a cut off of movement to allow the leaders to stand at the entrance and wave in joy and the crowds would have also reciprocated.  They should have entered City hall more dignified instead of being pushed in without control.  I was there I saw it.

I stayed until 1800hrs and left, with two persons abusing me in the background, one an employee of a Shipping company in Water Street , known for his dishonesty as a security person and vulgarity.  If the marshalls were sharp and organised like the PPP/C’s marshalls, they could have taken control and ejected or educated the few misbehaved who were smartly abusing Indo-Guyanese by screaming loudly in their ears about Jagdeo and Ramotar.  Some were spectators and supporters and may be on the ‘fence,’ waiting to decide, thinking about whom to support.  These people did APNU a great disservice and the party, despite its strengths, it needs to condignly deal with those Marshalls who must ensure the supporters do not taunt any spectators or passers-by on the road.  The PNC already have its name carved in stone and metal for misbehaviour which gave the party a bad name at times of protest and marches; some had even hurt people. Some had stones hidden on their bodies in the past, using it to pelt people in the Bourda Market and elsewhere as they moved, even shattering one of my glass doors on Regent Street.  Let us as a people hope such mass hysterical and disrespectful behaviour is a thing of the past.

Despite what the political competition may say, I believe Mr. Granger is a man of peace, with love for all citizens of Guyana, even those who do not support him, and I know for a fact that Corbin is a registered and certified Ambassador of Peace of the Universal Peace Federation.  They need to ensure the principles of peace and goodwill are taught to all their members, and those in the other parties have to be vigilant in ensuring that their memberships never descend into vulgarity or immature behaviour such as taunting passers-by or spectators or even non-supporters.  If certain people on the ‘fence,’ were thinking of voting APNU, the taunts would change their minds and drive them away.

We are a free nation, let us cherish our freedom.  Let us guard jealously our democracy.  Let the politicians know that people, that we the people are the bosses and not the politically elected.  They are not our Gods. That we the people will never hurt another for love of a party, or descend into bestiality (animalism) because of politics.  We have brains, wisdom…the capacity to think.  Let us always therefore, think before we act.