PNC members must reject the Granger/Roopnarine axis
I DO not believe that it is a co-incidence that both leader of the opposition and APNU leader, David Granger and Working People’s Alliance co-leader, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine attended Queen’s College together. In fact they were classmates. In the academic field, both men have earned a name for themselves with Granger being a retired Brigadier in the Guyana Defence Force before becoming a politician and Roopnarine becoming a lecturer at the University of Guyana.
But this is Guyana, and the strangest of things happen, especially in politics, and what has not taken place in a lifetime, takes place in a twinkling. Guyana’s political history over the years has been dotted by deceit, mistrust and conflicts. This has not changed recently.
In fact,  recent manifestations in the political arena have exposed the opportunistic tendencies of these characters, and it was against this backdrop that the Granger/Roopnarine axis was born.
This axis makes interesting reading, for it is heart-rending to note that while these two gentlemen were classmates at school, they were diametrically opposite in their political beliefs later on in life, and were subservient to different masters and ideologies.
While Granger kowtowed to Burnham and the PNC, Roopnarine submitted to the teachings and leadership of the late Walter Rodney who is said to have been murdered at the hands of PNC terrorists.
Then came the advent of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with David Granger as its leader which has incorporated the PNC as its core. We should not fail to mention that the same PNC which has been a formidable opposition to the PPP/C government for about two decades has been swallowed by the APNU. At the same time, the WPA under the leadership of Roopnarine went to bed with APNU under the guise of broadening an alliance to fight the PPP/C.
Is it surprising that these two men are now leading characters in the ‘unholy alliance’?  These two gentlemen at one time in their lives studied; ate and played together; then came  a time when they were poles apart; now comes the time when they are locked into a relationship. Guyanese are not foolish people as some would have thought. Already there is bickering in the camp. They are seeing through the curtains and have expressed consternation at the apparent taking over of their party by the WPA.
They are concerned and have expressed bewilderment at the fact that Rupert Roopnarine, who failed to get even a seat in the last couple of elections, has taken over the PNC which is a major political party in this country.
This is nothing further than the truth as while diehard PNC stalwarts like Aubrey Norton, Clerissa Reihl, Mervyn Williams and Lance Carberry are among those who have been sidelined by the APNU, there is ample evidence of a WPA takeover. Yes, the party without a constituency. Look at the dominant role of Rupert Roopnarine, Desmond Trotman, Ogunseye and others who have been appointed Parliamentarians. Late PNC leader Forbes Burnham would be turning in his grave.
The PNC members must demand the return of their party from the grasps of strangers. They must demand the return of their party from people who are without a constituency and are now “piggy-backing” on all the members of the PNC. It is a clear conspiracy by David Granger and Rupert Roopnarine to convert the PNC and its members to the WPA. PNC members must resist this scheme.