There is a well known saying that those whom “the gods wish to destroy” they

first “make mad”. Quite relevant also is the noted observation that he/she who relishes in expediently trumpeting the claim of being “nationalist”, ought to be aware that such a pretension is also viewed as resorting to the “lowest form of ideology”.
It is indeed grievous to note here today that in relation to both referenced philosophical observations, the politician who readily comes to mind is Mr David Granger, current chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
This party name, incidentally, has emerged as a post-general elections misnomer, since “disunity” rather than “unity seems to be the major thrust of the myopic politics of APNU. It happens to be the party of which ‘Comrade’ Rupert Roopnarine (Remember him from earlier militant WPA days?) is currently deputy chairman.
Granger is the ex-Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Remember that national military institution which, under Forbes Burnham’s long dictatorship (of which Granger is no innocent), had to routinely genuflect to swearing “loyalty’ to the doctrine of “party (PNC) paramountcy’?
Today, look how much the GDF has been transformed into a most respectable  and  dependable national institution following the post-1992 fostering of a new political culture, and commitment of its ranks to put Guyana’s national interest ABOVE other negative considerations.
The  politician, Granger, readily comes to mind  as the “Comrade who had managed to capture the leadership of a then divided Peoples National Congress (PNC) by securing merely fifteen (Yes, 15) votes more than Carl Greenidge, the ex-Finance Minister under the late President Desmond Hoyte.
Claims of a rigged election were openly raised and recorded, but eventually pushed to the back-burner in the interest of “victory with unity” for the November 2011 parliamentary elections.
However, as was the norm, since October 1992 with the restoration of regionally and internationally-supervised regional and parliamentary elections, the PNC once again, FAILED to secure sufficient seats to secure either the Executive Presidency or gain an overall majority in the 65-mmber National  Assembly.
So, facilitated by the seven seats won by the minority Alliance for Change (AFC) to secure a majority of ONE, the PNC and the AFC have, together, been grossly exploiting their one-seat plurality for narrow, spiteful political objectives that hold the national interest of Guyana to ransom.

Response to US envoy, Hardt
Now, fast-forward to last week when  a welcome and most reasonable public appeal was offered by the USA ambassador to Guyana, Mr D Brent Hardt, for the parliamentary parties to demonstrate required enlightened national unity, in Guyana’s best interest, to guarantee reality of the massive US$858 million Amaila hydro-electric project.
For that intervention by ambassador Hardt, published in and out of Guyana, he was to receive an uncalled for contemptuous response from APNU/PNC’s Granger.
He expediently chose to summon “nationalist” and “patriotic” virtues why, as chairman of APNU (the PNC in new clothing), to justify why he must stubbornly remain opposed to the Amaila hydro-project. Even, that is, after some support came from the AFC to facilitate legislation and related motion (with reservations) for the Amaila hydro-project to proceed.
“My interest,” Granger was to pompously state later in response to Ambassador Hardt, “is with Guyana and its people…” He argued that Ambassador Hart is representing the interest of the USA and the American people, and he, as  APNU/PNC leader is representing the Guyanese people. How politically infantile an argument!
But it would be  interesting to learn from whence came Granger’s “mandate” to obstruct the Amaila hydro-electricity project? When and where did Granger secure such a vote to OPPOSE the Legislation and Motion in the National Assembly?
Let him enlighten his own  party’s general membership, as there are STRONG  and OBJECTIVE  factors to underscore the fallacy of Granger’s arrogant, self-serving argument in defence of his anti-national stance against the Amaila hydro-electric project for which objective  and intelligent reasons are yet to be advanced—as earlier called for also by the Private Sector Commission  by (PSC).

Dancing on judicial appointments
Subsequently, we will return to Granger’s politically immature  and obstructionist politics in continuing to delay the long overdue confirmation in appointments of Chancellor Carl Singh and Chief  Justice Ian Chang (who have been respectively acting since 2005 and 2007 with NO known complaints against their professional competence and integrity).
Attorney-General Anil Nandlall is on record  as explaining that Granger ,“as Opposition Leader, misunderstands his role” in relation to the confirmation of both the Chancellor and Chief Justice…”
Perhaps those close to the APNU/PNC leader should advise him on his recurring political errors in relation not only on the Amaila hydro-project, but also  his continuing arrogance over the long overdue confirmation of Chancellor Singh and Chief Justice Chang.  More later!