THE current tirade by the small opposition party, the Alliance for Change (AFC) comes as no surprise to the mass of Guyanese people who have the country at heart. The outburst comes in the wake of the 2012 national budget which is being considered in the National Assembly and which, but for a few minor modifications, is being supported by the larger opposition grouping, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). APNU’s stance on the budgetary proposals must be seen as one in which patriotism is tested to the hilt, and it is because of their show of patriotism, the leader of APNU Mr. David Granger has come in for some heavy criticisms from the leader of the AFC, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan.
In the salvoes he fired at both APNU and Granger, Ramjattan accused Granger of engaging in ‘backroom meeting’ with government. Ramjattan’s lambasting of APNU is a clear case of the AFC’s inability to grapple with the reality that things are happening in Guyana and that the country  with its new budgetary proposals is set to further move on, and in the process, improve the lives of all Guyanese.
It is sad when some people who aspire to lead this nation fail to recognise genuine commitment and desire by others to unequivocally support moves aimed at improving the lot of the people.
It also exposes the ineptitude of the AFC leaders in dealing with matters of national importance; matters that could change the entire political landscape; matters that could be used as the vehicle for the dawning of a new day for all the people of this country.
But no! The AFC leaders have portrayed their anti-nationalistic propensity without even making their slightest analysis of the budget, and the rhetoric by the AFC members during the budget debate fell short of the thrust to move the country forward in a united effort.
APNU on the other hand, showed their authentic desire to help in the building process, and in so doing supported the budgetary proposals with some modifications at the various committee stages.
This move by APNU has really put the damper on the AFC, and further exposes that party and its leaders insatiable appetite to make life for the government a living nightmare.
But this was not to be. APNU with a constituency of 139,678 voters, knew there were many benefits in the budget for its supporters and promptly supported the document. APNU’s show of support for the government is a clear indication that that party is interested in working collectively with the government and other players in the national interest.
This change of heart by APNU is a prick in the side of the AFC and now its chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, is lambasting APNU. And APNU’s action is a sure sign of that partnertship’s sense of responsibility to its supporters who, like all other Guyanese, stand to gain from the several developmental projects that are listed in the budget.
It is clear that in the present composition of the country’s National Assembly with the ruling PPP/C allocated 32 seats, the APNU 26 seats and the AFC 7 seats, the stage was set for the making of political history in this country, and President Donald Ramotar had made the first step in this direction by holding tripartite talks with the two opposition parties on a range of issues in the national interest.
But although this was the best road to travel, the AFC thought otherwise, and instead of working in tandem with the government and the other opposition party, it has adopted an anti-worker position and has called for, among other things, the slashing of hundreds of jobs in the public sector.
This is a show of contempt to the people of this country, and APNU quite correctly steered a different course, and rather than embarking on one of confrontation and confusion (AFC’s choice), APNU allowed better sense to prevail and supported budgetary allocations from which their supporters will also benefit. Indeed, Guyanese from all strata of society will gain.
The people are not surprised with the behaviour of the AFC and its leaders, as decency in politics is alien to them. They are beginning to show their true colours as enemies of the entire Guyanese population. When people are reduced to this level, they are driven further into oblivion.