THE dust has settled. For the APNU, the challenge over the Statements of Poll seems to have been a ploy, a strategy to maintain amongst its ranks a state of protest-readiness or more. It worked. And, as per usual, the party’s hierarchy felt no obligation to tell the nation that the challenge was unjustified. I note with interest that the general feeling is that Mr. Raphael Trotman will not have to rotate the substantive seat of Speaker. But APNU’s Granger seems to have other ideas. Granger comes across as a ‘carrot and stick’ leader. The threat of Speaker rotation will always hover as the Sword of Domacles over the head of the AFC. If (or when) AFC finds it difficult to agree/vote with the APNU, Rotation of Speaker will come up. And Raphael Trotman, having leveraged his way to the Speakership and enjoying the taste of power, will be playing in a different ball field.
It is not difficult to perceive that the honeymoon between the APNU and AFC will be short-lived. In the minds of APNU’s (PNC’s) supporters,the AFC must always do the former’s bidding. The AFC’s supporters, on the other hand, expect a noticeable level of maturity and objectivity on the part of AFC’s leadership. This  means NOT going along with everything on APNU’s agenda, NOT being a YES Party.
It is in this light that the opposition parties in Parliament will find it necessary to always watch and weigh each other and this will take its toll. Add to this the requirement of the parties to watch the PPP/C and the current joining threat certainly looks onerous. Like the PNC/UF partnership, the APNU/AFC partnership cannot survive the culture of the traditional PNC. Burnham had said: “You have to be born PNC”. Has this changed?
In fact, bitter though it might be to accept, it is the AFC which has given the PNC its present position of strength, same as the TUF and PNC. Will the AFC suffer the same fate as the TUF? My bet is that it will. So far, from all appearances, the AFC is set to be the APNU’s water boy. As the AFC loses its independence, so also will it lose its credo.
Recognising that Jagdeo did significant damage to the image of the PPP/C within his last five years as President, the PNC/WPA/AFC ‘coalition’ has a strong HATE premise as its common driving force. But this hate is more for Jagdeo than for the PPP/C. If the WPA can forgive the PNC for the assassination of Walter Rodney, then the hate within the WPA (and the AFC) for the PPP/C can experience the same fate.
Under the stewardship of Donald Ramotar, the minority government should chart and pursue its course based on transparency and accountability. Let development continue. Get rid of the ‘Jagdeo’ culture of buying off people. Simultaneously, the bullyism of the combined opposition should not be encouraged. There are certain functions of government which must remain within the remit of the government, e.g. preparation and tabling of the national budget. The Parliament is the forum for the opposition’s involvement.
The next two years will dictate the next two decades for Guyana. It is no secret that the AFC pulled significant Indian votes, traditionally given to the PPP/C. A productive 2012/2013 will alter the thinking of the people relative to a third party. Understandably, the APNU and AFC will do everything in their power to negate whatever attempts the PPP/C make at developing our nation. The PPP/C may wish to contemplate national elections in 2014. They should also anticipate a coup de ‘etat. That is a very real possibility.
Reading the manifestos of all the parties in Parliament, I am tempted to the conclusion that we have in Guyana, politicians who are genuinely committed to working together to lead us in nation-building. But actions speak louder than words. So, we shall see who walks the talk.
Good luck, Guyana! May the Lord help us – if we are willing to help ourselves.