IN a startling revelation to the nation during an interview over the last weekend on the radio programme ‘Hard Talk’, Africo Selman, who served as an Opposition Member of Parliament from 2006, first representing the People’s National Congress (PNC) and then with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), expressed the fear she felt for her physical safety and that of her family while being a sitting Parliamentarian for the Opposition had she failed to vote along the party line.Responding to a question from the host on whether her decision to resign from the party was as a result of her being offered a diplomatic posting, she said, “No, I would like to refute that… there was also talk that I was one of the persons offered some $50M. I had no clue of how much money was offered but I would not have accepted because of my safety and the safety of my family and I would not have jeopardised anyone’s safety in the interest of money.”

Leader of the Alliance For Change Khemraj Ramjattan, after submitting the No-Confidence motion to the National Assembly last year, had publicly accused other Opposition members of being in collusion with the Government who, he claimed, had paid three Opposition members millions of dollars to vote against the motion.
Questioned what she meant by her safety, Selman explained, “That No-Confidence motion, persons throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, supporters of the AFC and the APNU they wanted that, and I don’t know how many irrational persons they are, and how they would react. And if someone had dared to go against that motion you would be creating a risk for yourself.”
28-YEAR REIGN OF PNC
This revelation by a sitting Member of Parliament is reminiscent of the fear ordinary Guyanese felt during the 28-year reign of the PNC. That era as is being revealed in the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry saw persons, especially politicians, with opposing views being intimidated and killed.
Selman also described the APNU partnership as a farce as it is dominated by a few PNC leaders whom she described as undemocratic and abusive. She further named Desmond Trotman from the Working People’s Alliance as one of the persons who has suffered because of the undemocratic behaviour and the leadership of ignoring the abuses meted out to the young people in the party, naming Renita Williams and herself as victims.
Selman said that her resignation resulted from a personal decision she made in December 2014 when it was written. She assured that she had no offer from the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and is mulling her political future as she will be perusing the manifesto of the party before determining her next move.

(By Raymon Cummings)