MEMBER of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary for the Health Ministry, Mr. Joseph Hamilton, said while A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) keep stamping their authority as a majority opposition, the unchangeable fact remains that the PPP/C is the duly elected government, entrusted with the responsibility to execute the affairs of  state by a majority of the Guyanese population. Hamilton, a former executive member of the People’s National Congress, parted ways with that party and joined the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) after stalwart members of the party, who made invaluable contributions, were being vilified by some of their fellow members.
He noted that the PNC and now APNU is being presented to the nation by its senior officials as a national, multi-ethnic party. However, its discussions are marred with plain ethnic insinuations.
The PNC is now in the process of selecting a new leader after former leader, Robert Corbin, indicated his intention to step down. The leadership race for this new congress has seen APNU’s leader and member, David Granger and Carl Greenidge respectively, emerging as two of the most favoured contenders.
He pointed out that the choices of Greenidge and Granger show that the party has not moved forward in terms of attracting young, vibrant individuals to take leadership positions and move the party forward.
This is quite in contrast to the PPP/C, which is successfully preparing a new leadership cadre in the persons of Ministers Anil Nandlall, Priya Manickchand, Irfaan Ali, Robert Persaud, and Ashni Singh, who are only but a few tried and tested young individuals who have proven themselves worthy.
With regard to Granger, Hamilton said that there is no evidence in any part of the world of a military man turned political leader accomplishing anything substantial in terms of growth and development. Instead, history has recorded only death and destruction under the stewardship of such leaders.
He explained that military leaders have a difficulty participating in democratic politics because they are accustomed to giving instructions, orders and directives and, as such, they lack the ability to persuade and negotiate.

“The problem APNU is faced with is that it is in confrontation mode instead of a negotiation mode…the only way you can ensure that maximum benefits go to your constituents is to negotiate in good faith with the government of the day,” Hamilton said.
He added that it is not an easy task to be a leader of a coalition party and assume leadership of the PNC as well, which is currently in “sleep mode”.
He is of the opinion that Granger is not capable of delivering what is necessary to his constituents, because he is failing to negotiate in good faith; making reference to the endless reneging on the decisions that were made in the inter-party talks.
A glaring example of poor leadership is when the APNU agreed to the hike in the electricity tariff in Linden, but backed away when the pressure was brought to bear by their supporters.
“As a leader, you have to lead even when your followers will wrestle with your decisions; you cannot, as a political leader have the tail wagging the dog. Mr. Granger is incapable of negotiating because of what they had sold to their constituents at the elections,” Hamilton said