ANY reaction to today’s Kaietuer News article attributing comments to Joseph Harmon, M.P., in relation to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill cannot begin without this factual reality: The PNC/APNU ownership of the copyright to political violence in Guyana is unchallengeable.Fearful of the consequences of its own non-support for the Bill, the opposition is being driven to all sorts of machinations. Harmon, by his public utterances, has introduced the possibility of PNC/APNU utilizing its well-established brand of violence and intimidation, as desperation mounts on its part.
The stinging condemnation by a majority of Guyanese over APNU/AFC’s non-support for the passage of this a Bill is indeed having a negative impact on the psyche of the opposition.
The territory of violence and intimidation rightly belongs to the PNC/APNU as history would have recorded repeated episodes of violent incidents under that party’s directorship, as recent as the Linden unrest in 2012.
Apart from Harmon’s cheap shot at politics, he has again highlighted the reality of the opposition being averse to criticism, even when it results from its own reckless and callous actions.
Harmon’s latest ‘fictional piece’ offends the rights of the majority of Guyanese to disagree with the opposition’s non-support for the Bill. To equate this right to that of violent intent is highly disrespectful.
We could hardly be convinced that any fear can penetrate the minds of those in the opposition, especially taking into consideration their behaviour in relation to threats to social and economic stability; practice of racial politics; budget cuts that affect the livelihood of thousands of Guyanese; scaring away of investors; and support for criminality among other ills.
Could it be that the opposition is using Harmon to signal those in its rank and file to be the first to instigate violence as the means of diverting attention from the opposition gloom and doom blow moment?
Written By Candida Ellis