OLD Kai shook his head in disbelief upon reading that PNC/R Presidential Candidate and APNU leader, David Granger was not questioned by the media on a glaring inconsistency during his last media interaction.

I initially thought that the pressure from the explosive revelations of the ongoing Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry had forced his error, but then, after reading between the lines, it gradually emerged that there is an increasing fear that the CoI is getting closer to identifying the specific individuals and the role they played during this dark period in our country.
Thanks to the CoI, we now know that David Granger had detailed knowledge on the man accused of killing Dr. Rodney, as was revealed by former Chief of Staff, Norman McLean.
Contrast this to an interview Mr. Granger gave to the Guyana Times some time back, indicating that he was not around when Dr. Rodney was killed, and, in hindsight, conveniently omitted that he was intricately involved in the issue during that time. Let us also not forget that Mr. Granger, in trying to criticise the CoI, had worried that the revelations will only embarrass public officers involved at the time.
This brings me back to the Friday, 13 June and what a ‘black Friday’ it was as the Opposition Leader was quoted as admitting that his government committed mistakes during their dictatorship, but asserted that he will not issue any blanket apology for that period. Instead, he is reported as saying that “he (will) need to see the evidence of such claims…”
It does not end there, as the media also quoted Mr. Granger as saying, “Every government makes mistakes; I am not denying that the PNC did, but it has to be investigated… So, if you feel the PNC killed persons or rigged elections, then it has to be investigated; and we are prepared to deal with the consequences when it is brought to light.”
This position, when examined closely, raises some serious concerns, as, are we to believe that Mr. Granger, having indicated that he is aware of mistakes his PNC Government committed, is now saying that he will only apologise if it comes to light? So, if it never comes to light, then Guyanese will never know of these unspeakable acts, and how they affected our country’s history; and we will forever be robbed of the truth by the PNC-APNU.
Let us pause for a moment and digest that such an impression is being conveyed by a man who has ambition to be President of of this country. Old Kai recalls a quote from US Republican Mitt Romney on leadership: “Leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses.”
The Guyanese population will now judge if Mr. Granger and company are indeed serious about their commitment to accountability, transparency and reconciliation as has been so heavily touted by them since the 2011 elections.
Why must it take an investigation for Mr. Granger and his Party to come forward and apologise to the Guyanese people? That would not be a sincere apology. Having admitted that his Party is indeed guilty of past atrocities, the onus now is on Mr. Granger to come forward and admit their transgressions and seek forgiveness from the population. When one is sincere, that is how it is done.
The terms put forward by the Opposition Leader for apologising further confirms that he has no intention of doing so, especially when one takes into consideration the attacks that former PNC leaders have come under for disclosing what actually transpired during that period.
Take for instance Mr. Joseph Hamilton, a former senior priest of the House of Israel and PNC/R Member of Parliament. He was described as a ‘demon’, accused of fabricating evidence, and perjury by the Opposition when he testified before the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry. When one considers that this type of attack will await witnesses of any future investigation, it is easy to see why Mr. Granger is so coy with his conditions for offering an apology.
Let us also not forget that when this CoI was established, the PNC indicated that they would boycott it; so what guarantee do we have that they will not go down this route for any future investigations?
Old Kai then will not hold his breath, waiting for an apology from the Opposition, as what this ongoing CoI has helped me to confirm is that the more things change, the more they stay the same within the PNC and their mask, the APNU.