Did PNCR supporters reject Sharma Solomon in his leadership quest
… after he announced that he will support the AFC no-confidence motion against the PPP/C Government?

IT IS NO SECRET that President Donald Ramotar is gaining in popularity among traditional Opposition supporters, and this has largely to do with the fact that they feel they can trust him, that he is genuine and he is committed to the development of all Guyanese.Even his fiercest critics, including some daily columnists and professional Opposition letter writers, are grudgingly admitting that President Ramotar towers over his challengers in the joint Opposition.

This best explains the obvious loss of confidence PNCR members and supporters are now openly displaying against their leaders. The AFC, on the other hand, has found itself in a more dangerous position, as both their supporters and detractors are refusing to take them seriously, following one political blunder after another. Desperate to get into the limelight, they keep doing and saying the most outrageous things and their proposed no-confidence motion against the PPP/C Government should be seen in this context.
Individuals who have been known supporters of the AFC in the past are publicly encouraging them not to push the no-confidence motion ahead, but the party is telling the media that it is compelled to move ahead, based on the wishes of its supporters. Yet, the AFC leadership wonders why supporters are losing trust in the party.
This brings me back to the PNCR which is facing its own leadership crisis, with current leader David Granger being accused of breaching the party’s constitution, dictatorial tactics, including side-lining members he sees as threats to his efforts of embedding his clique in positions of total control.
While Granger’s leadership remains on shaky ground, one of his challengers committed a political blunder which has cost him his leadership aspirations. I am referring to no other than Sharma Solomon, who was so overwhelmed by the attention he received in the lead-up to the Linden unrest, that rather than tempering the emotions of citizens, he was guilty of adding to it and we all know the end result. He was then laid bare in front of the Linden Commission of Inquiry and since then he has adopted a low key approach, obviously embarrassed at being exposed during the CoI.
However, he reappeared suddenly a few days ago in a staged attempt to create some traction for his leadership ambition, as we are told he was nominated to challenge David Granger for the reins of the PNCR. Apparently, giddy again by seeing his name in the media, he then loudly proclaimed that he accepted the nomination and if elected leader, he would support the AFC’s no-confidence motion against the Donald Ramotar Government. One day later we are told that he mysteriously dropped out of the leadership race and he refused to speak to the media. Why this sudden u-turn from Solomon? There has been some speculation that it is to pave the way for Aubrey Norton to go up head to head against Granger, but this does not exactly add up.
If this was indeed the case, Solomon would not have accepted and then willingly dropped out in the space of 24 hours. If this was indeed the plan, he would have waited to generate some momentum and then side with Norton during Congress, as was the case between factions supporting Greenidge and Granger at the last congress. It would have given them the necessary traction with all the delegates present there.
Therefore, I am more inclined to believe that Solomon was shunned by PNCR members and even his own support base after he announced he would be supporting the AFC’s no-confidence motion against the PPP/C Government. The current PNCR — APNU leadership has so far been hesitant to support this hare-brained scheme of the AFC, which is a clear indication that they are well aware that President Donald Ramotar is in the ascendancy and will prevail with a clear majority this time around.
Old Kai has even picked up word going around in Opposition circles that not only do they fear President Ramotar will bring back traditional supporters into the fold of the PPP, but he will also be attracting the votes of a significant percentage of Opposition supporters, who see him as the only solution to breaking the current political deadlock which has served to stagnate Guyana’s development on several fronts.
This is the reason; the die-hards from Congress Place do not want to risk going back to general elections and lose the combined one seat majority they currently hold in the National Assembly, as it would scuttle all their current plans to hamper the work programme of the PPP/C.
Solomon shares the name of a very wise King, but clearly the apple fell very, very far from the tree.