PNC/APNU and the AFC cannot have their cake and eat it too. Guyana’s opposition has a few options. Either they declare critical support to the government which the PPP in opposition did for the PNC government, or selectively and publicly support government policies which benefit all Guyanese. Resorting to street demonstrations which fuels the usual crime spree with rioting, beatings, burning, and raping of Indian women to which we have grown accustomed is not an option. Both Mr Moses Nagamootoo and Mr Khemraj Ramjattan gave ‘critical support’ to  the PNC government when they were in opposition. What did their political guru Jagan teach them that they have so quickly forgotten? The cock has not yet crowed.

Condemning the Marriott, Speciality Hospital and Cheddi Jagan Airport renovation projects cannot be a legacy by which the opposition wants to be judged. All these projects will lead to future increases in permanent jobs. To demand job creation for youths while blocking projects which creates them does Guyana no good. Already the US, UK, Canadian and European Union governments have warned the opposition about their failure to support the anti-money laundering bill which is counterproductive to Guyana’s progress. Banks would have a difficult time to send home remittances. It could scare away investors. Most of the old time socialist sympathisers, including Cuba, have been moving from Marxism to the market. See below article on Mozambique. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21655680

Speaking at a meeting organised by the  ruling South African African National Congress (ANC) on Monday, President Jacob Zuma reportedly said: “We can’t think like Africans in Africa, generally. This is Johannesburg. It’s not some national road in Malawi.” South Africa’s public broadcaster, SABC, reports that Mr Zuma’s spokesman Mac Maharaj has apologised to those who felt offended by the comments. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24655240

Shared governance will definitely not work and is not desirable. Both opposition supporters Mr. Mike Persaud (“Rashleigh Jackson needs to be more explicit,” (KN 10-29-13) and Dr Tarron Khemraj have made good cases in rejecting that failed, impractical option. Dr Khemraj was most clear when he wrote: “I think if these changes are made it can set the stage for democratic turnover instead of shared governance, which will become a system of elite accommodation and privileged entrenchment.” (SN 31 October 2013)

Race is still a four-letter word and will not go away. In comes Federalism as the practical alternative, allowing the magnificent talents of each competing group to achieve their best. Moving a no-confidence motion against the government as the AFC people are bragging about to force the PPP/C to call snap elections is the last choice. This constant humbug by the PNC/AFC is counter-productive to even the opposition’s chances of image improvement. Good reading appetiser about Marx to Capitalism below. Can it help them to be more progressive Guyanese? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14764357

SULTAN MOHAMED