BROTHER Malcolm Harripaul should not be very upset despite his letter to SN, on 4-24-12 that ‘APNU has turned Parliament into a farce’. I hope an old friend  does not mind my  being totally honest (prefer not to be blunt) while still being  gracious at the same time to someone who fought the PNC dictatorship but yet  worked his guts off supporting the same APNU in 2011. Believe me compadre, I do understand your problems. What is it however, that you do not understand about today’s  PNC/WPA/APNU  looking out for the vital interests of their ethnic base to raise your hackles?  When Malcolm has reconciled himself to explaining why the PNC disguised as APNU has successfully recaptured its entire black support base of four seats in 2011  siphoned off by Mr. Raphael Trotman  in the 2006 elections, he  would understand why the PNC has always protected its ethnic interests as a priority, even paramount over the national interest.
He may find a clue by the overjoyed gleefulness of Mayor Hamilton Green with Mr. Granger since their common elevation to honour within the same PNC  even as one was expelled and the other has blood on his hands. If he has any doubts, Malcolm can also explain APNU’s rejection of the Mr. Moses Nagamootoo who brought over four seats to the AFC even as APNU selected its ‘kith and kin’, Mr. Raphael Trotman, for the Speakership. Both rebelled against their respective parties and both brought over four seats. So what makes Trotman more acceptable to  your APNU than Nagamootoo, pray tell me Malcolm?
We all now know that APNU definitely could not have won any seats due to its  manifesto which  was  published only one day before the 2011 elections. No traction there at all. Could Black suffering have been real, real bad in 2006 for the exodus  to depart the PNC  and begin a new venture with Trotman’s AFC to make things better?  What explains this rush back in 2011 of  the former PNC supporters…did things  become drastically worse in 2011 in a severe worldwide economic recession? Conversely, and most importantly did  things get better (Guyana’s economy grew by some 5 % in 2011) under the same corrupt, discriminatory no good PPP/C to “push” them back into the PNC because they were not getting a bigger share like some fat cats? Malcolm cannot be living in darkness to ignore the dissatisfaction and apathy of  PPP/C supporters who still feel the PPP/C was pumping more resources into PNC areas in conformity with their class-based philosophy, while their security and other interests were ignored. Conclusively, Malcolm and the AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo  and Indians like them would have to sooner or later stop their “puritanical politics” in Guyana if they want to smell the curry. Emulating the bold example of David Hinds, Tacuma Ogunseye and ACDA’s other ethno-centric African leaders who boldly admit and operate exclusively under a premise  that since  Guyana’s  political parties are entrenched ethnically then their quest in promoting race is an acceptable recourse. I should have no problems with this approach as it would  also allow me to pursue a comparable course? But maybe Malcolm is  one of those good souls who sincerely believes race does not matter.. Nothing wrong with  that. Why Malcolm  wants to continue being wrong when leading APNU supporters feel their race course is better if not completely justified is something he has to decide for himself. Malcolm or anyone else can maybe provide me the evidence where even the current  WPA electoral rejects masked under an emboldened APNU have been championing the “national good” rather than their top-heavy open  Afro-ethnic politics since Rodney’s demise. What kind of new WPA socialism is all this which denies a GECOM seat to the AFC?

Ironically, the magnificence of Dr Walter Rodney was his championship of an undeviating Marxist approach based on class despite his proud Pan African associations. Yet Dr Kean Gibson attacks Hindus as the source of all black problems (what explains black misery in Haiti with no Indians?) as if Indians have no entitlement to their cultural pride and traditions.
That Rodney subsumed race to class has never been disputed and explains his magnetism even amongst Indians. The current WPA leftovers continue to do tremendous damage to his reputation by seeking to claim sole inheritance to his sacrifices.

Even  Dr. Jagan simple-mindedly pursued to his death  the purity of a Marxist approach for all Guyanese regardless of race unlike Forbes Burnham who rode the PNC to personal power in alliance with foreign interests to empower his ethnic base.

The PNC/UF vow to destroy Jagan witnessed the Venezuelan re-awakening to demand two-thirds of Guyana. Who will explain the WPA’s acquiescence in APNU’s  rejection  of “socialist” Nagamootoo for the Speakership.
That can never be acceptable at all, as it is unforgiveable. If David Hinds writing in KN, 4-25-12,  believes that they will win plaudits by blaming the press, they must re-check in the mirror especially after pointing out  how “equally damaging are (his) inconsistencies and seeming political opportunism of the opinion-shapers like the Stabroek News”.

For the survival and advancement of most emphatically, a plural Guyana there is not much evidence to  find APNU  boldly and consistently seeking equal burden for all, in Guyana’s development for the “national good”.
Embracing the Amaila Falls hydroelectric project, championing the racial balance of the armed forces, initiating agricultural projects, cutting back of the non-productive public sector and most importantly stamping out crime and corruption seem to make APNU go into seizures.

Without a doubt, Opposition Leader David Granger completely understands how ethnic-base politics plays by ensuring that the national budget protects his ethnic base even if it strangles the  economy of Guyana.

Has Malcolm, Ramjattan, Roopnarine, Kissoon, Ramsaroop or  Rahaman, etc, ever witnessed  Granger promoting the racial balancing of  Guyana’s armed forces? The answer is a loud “No”. Why? Such a policy will affect Granger’s ethnic base, even though it may be better for the
national good of the country.
Even Freddie Kissoon writing  in KN of 4-25-12 had cause to condemn David Granger  that  “in relation to contract workers, APNU leader, Mr. Granger, gave an interview to Stabroek News (April 22, 12) in which he said that  “it was not in the public interest (he means APNU’s interests) to support an attack on the public service.” This is wrong thinking by Mr. Granger. In other words, APNU is more concerned with its base.

So  ‘ethnic impact’ which was  prominently an  AFC manifesto  promise now finds Moses Nagamootoo initiating the drive for more money for all Guyanese aged and pensioners, while Khemraj Ramjattan wants the NICIL funds transferred to the Consolidated Fund for accountability to, and for all.

What about the ‘ethnic impact’ which these leaders promised their some 35 thousand Indian supporters on which they rode to parliament?

Why this convenient memory lapse for the racial balancing of Guyana’s armed forces which they have always championed?

Sooner or later Malcolm will appreciate why APNU enriches their ethnic base which spells  strength and which allows a platform to adjudicate and to  demand their fair share. Who can have a problem with others getting their fair share as long as others also get theirs?

That Malcolm has become ensnared in Granger skilfully camouflaged trap to harness his tireless support can only be his own fault that he fell for their diversions. Whether Malcolm redeems himself by  recalibrating back into real politics is left to be seen.

Without a doubt however, the political spectrum has  never been  so aligned to make the AFC the significant powerhouse in reshaping Guyana’s destiny. While APNU boldly makes its demands  to satisfy its ethnic support,  the AFC seems unsure of its clout and potential to
significantly alter politics in Guyana.

It’s the AFC’s seven seats  which hold promise for the balance of power to initiate the balancing of
Guyana’s armed forces as a lasting testimony to its existence. Both Malcolm and the AFC may be unsure of themselves right now.

But with APNU hogging all the GECOM seats reserved for the joint opposition the AFC cannot be that blind. Remember what the PNC did to the UF and the PPP?