THE POLITICAL situation in Guyana has taken a very interesting turn. The PNC, which was the main opposition, has almost disappeared. Hardly anyone mentions the PNC these days. The reason is that the PNC seems to have lost its identity. Most of the prominent people have not been associated with that Party. The reason is that a coup has occurred in the PNC. The traditional politicians of that party have been removed. Highly noticeable by their absence are Lance Carberry, Aubrey Norton, Faith Harding, Clarissa Rhiel and many others.
These people have been sidelined.
Some people are now beginning to speak out.
Ms Harding, for instance, has described the situation in the run-up to the selection of the PNCR’s presidential candidate as a totally undemocratic process.
In the meantime, Ms Judith David-Blair, a PNCR Executive Member from Bartica, has also expressed her dissatisfaction by resigning from the Party.
What has happened is that former military officers have taken over the whole operation and now the stalwarts of the PNCR are now waking up to that fact.
David Granger has led a coup on the PNCR. His most trusted lieutenants are all former army people – Joseph Harmon is one of the most influential persons in the APNU.
The presence of former army chief Edward Collins and former Commissioner of Police Winston Felix are prominent in the now renamed APNU.
Recognizing what was happening, the WPA also moved in and sidelined many PNCR stalwarts. That party could not even put up a list of candidates for the 2001 and 2006 elections and now, because of the coalition APNU, has many seats in the Parliament.
Most prominent among them is Rupert Roopnarine, who now holds the number two position in the APNU, while stalwarts like Carberry are off the list.
The PNCR has recently announced that it is calling a General Council meeting to discuss what has transpired.
The advent of the military has made the PNCR/APNU even more undemocratic.
Decisions are being dictated from above in a barrack-room style and this is creating great disgust, and the danger for the stalwarts is that they have lost all right/s to voice their opinions/recommendations in the party and in the politics of the country.
The general consensus being touted by some members of the PNCR is that David Granger is destroying Burnham’s legacy – the PNC.