MOST businessmen, except for those openly supportive of the Opposition, are fed up of the Opposition’s politics of one-upmanship and anti-developmental, anti-progressive negativity, but are afraid of openly voicing their concerns for fear of being targetted in retaliation, as has been demonstrated time and again.

While an observer may consider this fence-sitting by the private sector cowardly (except for some brave souls, given Guyana’s history, where businesses have been looted and/or razed to the ground by professional protesters when the opposition goes on its rampages over one nebulous issue or another ), those who are au fait with the modus operandi of the Opposition, in all its configurations, know that it is only prudent for businessmen to stay on the sidelines and make indeterminate statements on critical national issues.
This is even while being aware that it is Opposition filibustering and theatrics that create impasses, such as the current parliamentary imbroglio, while Government is always consulting all stakeholders — although the Opposition continually refuses to engage in constructive dialogue, or they agree on issues then renege, or they stage walkouts, or they make demands that would give them greater powers than the President.
When a business entity offends the Opposition, either by not donating enough to the Party/Parties; or for criticizing them in any way; or even for participating in national events which they interpret as supporting the Government, boycotts are called, which signals to the thugs that this business is fair game. And then, most often, all hell breaks loose.
One may recall a period when businessmen were being kidnapped and killed wantonly; and even now, certain members of the entrepreneurial community are continually being attacked.
The AFC’s no-confidence motion would have segued into the immediate dissolution of Parliament and elections within a three-month period; which would have wiped out Christmas.
President Ramoutar’s recourse to prorogation not only kept the 10th Parliament alive, but also kept hope for good sense to prevail, and conflict-resolutions be sought through dialogue, and allowed for developmental continuity; it also postponed the inevitable early elections to beyond the Christmas holidays, thereby allowing for the Season of Peace and Goodwill to be enjoyed in an ethos of peace and a spirit of goodwill.
However, the intractable puerile behaviour and inflammatory rhetoric of the Opposition leaders and professional protesters and Opposition media operatives openly urging insurrection, and encouraging violence is sending terror in the business community and the citizens of the country who are always victims of such ‘peaceful protest’ actions.
The supporters of these Parties are rewarded bountifully for the mayhem they create with the loot they cart off from businesses they invade; and Christmas is their preferred time of protests, because it is during this period that stores are amply stocked in anticipation of the Christmas trade.
The ‘leaders’ of the Joint Opposition have once again taken away from Guyanese the joy, peace and goodwill of Christmas, Guyana’s most celebrated religious and social festival.