Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh has dismissed the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Alliance as a vulgar equation, which is yet to evolve into an entity capable of respecting the democratic rights of the people.According to Dr Singh, the genesis of the Alliance is not one rooted in a vision for a better Guyana, rather it is steep in interest to obtain political power, even if it requires acting conveniently and then pretend to be convincing.
Their selling point, he said is all about promises, promises of everything under the sun, even some of the things that the voted down in the 10th Parliament.
Speaking at a recent rally at De Abreu Street, Kitty, Georgetown, Dr Singh said the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is not about making false promises, but it is about doing what is realistic and building on grains made.
Big promises by the People’s Nation Congress Reform (PNCR), which controls the APNU+AFC Alliance, he said, are nothing new for them, pointing out it was used as a means by the party to get by when it was in Government.
The Minister told the Kitty gathering that when the PNC was in Government, they hardly showed any interest in the people. And during the 10 Parliament, under the ‘guise’ of APNU, they hardly did. This, he said was evident by their voting down of projects which will benefit the people, create jobs and improve livelihoods.

He said the AFC was their pawn during the 10th Parliament, and it is no surprise that they agree to formalise their relationship.
These are the people, he said who showed little care for the welfare of the people during the 10th Parliament, but now, given that it is close to elections, they found it fit to make big promises and rush to the electorate to get votes.
The people, he said, have to be mindful and careful about the Alliance, contending that the story told by APNU+AFC Deputy Leader Moses Nagamootoo at the formalisation of the relationship is laughable as much as it is implausible.
The Kitty gathering was told that Nagamootoo had liked the Alliance Leader David Granger since he was small, but only decided to marry when they get tall.
And after the marriage, David and Mosses emerged in “tight embrace”, declaring that they have a covenant, and it is called the “Cummingsburg Accord”.
Deficient covenant
According to Dr Singh, the covenant was not a master plan to improve the gains of the Great Land, but it was all about who and who will be put in prominent positions.
He related that Granger get the leadership post, Nagamootoo become his deputy, there were three positions for Vice Presidents and the AFC got 12 seats in Parliament, among other things, but there was not a single strategy of what they will do for the people.
Taking a swipe at Nagamootoo, Dr Singh said the APNU+AFC Deputy Leader seems to be an ultimate opportunist.
He told the gathering that when Nagamootoo did not become the Presidential Candidate for the PPP/C, he left the party, and tried to become the President Candidate in the AFC, but failed.
And even while he was in the AFC, he tried to become the Presidential Candidate for APNU during the ‘secret talks’, but also failed.
Describing Nagamootoo as an “aggressive shopper”, the Finance Minister said gauging the enthusiasm shown by Nagamootoo, it seems as though if any party was advertising for a Presidential Candidate, Nagamootoo would have been the first to put up his hand.
But Nagamootoo, he said had to eat the humble pie, and was forced to settle for a “cheaper price”, that is, the man who will be guided by PNCR/APNU Leader David Granger.
Deeply partisan

He also slammed the Alliance for attacking enterprising leaders who joined the ruling party.
The Minister said months ago, when young businessman Clinton Urling was expressing his views on what he sees as shortcomings in governance; he was hailed and highly praised by members of the Alliance.
But when Urling, after examining the programmes of the PPP/C and APNU+AFC, and decided that he will choose the PPP/C, members and supporters of the Alliance tried viciously to make him as subject or scorn and ridicule.
It was the same with Africo Selman, he said. Selman had complained that she was viciously abused by the APNU leadership for expressing differing views on various matters.
This, she said, forced her to cut and run from the coalition since the torrent of verbal abuse might have led to her being physically assaulted.
In the case of Prime Ministerial Candidate Elizabeth Harper, Dr Singh said they have now concocted a scandal to besmirch her integrity.
But joining the PPP/C, Harper for them, he said was a public servant of exception quality, worthy of serving in an APNU+AFC Cabinet, if they are victorious at the May 11 polls.
He said Harper’s, Selman’s, Urling’s and the many others, many of whom are young leaders, their sin in the eyes of APNU+AFC was to join the PPP/C.
This is how the Alliance regards persons who have made their free and democratic choice, he said, contending that they believe certain people are their personal property.
This is their behaviour in opposition, Dr Singh said, telling the gathering that one would least want to know what they will do if they get into power.
He said the APNU+AFC Alliance should not be trusted as Granger too seems to see nothing wrong in speaking from both sides of his mouth.
At one time, Dr Singh said he is saying that if the APNU+AFC wins power, there will be no witch hunting, but after making the pronouncement, he said if the Alliance wins the May 11 elections, the current Commissioner of Police and the Auditor General would not have their jobs.
Granger, he said too supported the voting down of the Amaila Falls Project, but yet at a Guyana Manufacturing Services Association (GMSA) dinner, he said if elected to Government, he will bring the project on stream.
National Service

But in all of this, he said, Granger wants to bring back National Service. According to Dr Singh, the mandatory service was discriminatory as it was designed to benefit only a select few.
A devout Muslim or Hindu, who want to complete studies at the University of Guyana, had to go through National Service, which did not cater for their traditional customs.
Regardless of their religious beliefs, he said, if the menu was beef and pork, the Hindu brother had to eat the beef and the Muslim the pork, or starve.
And this was not all. He said, many bright Indian young ladies did not bother about an education at UG and many were forced to abandoned studies there when it was time to attend National Service, to escape the horrors of defilement.
Today, he said, the PPP/C Government has opened a new book, and is focusing on attracting new investments, building a modern Guyana by bring hydro on stream, building a deep water harbour and creating a thriving Information Communication Technology (ICT) Sector. These, he said are being done to open up more job opportunities and raise the standard of living of all Guyanese.
The PNCR-controlled APNU, now APNU+AFC, he said will make promises, including big promises, but they had a woeful track record when in Government.
And worst yet, regardless of what they say, Dr Singh said, they haven’t changed.
Their 2014 Congress at the party headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia, he said is a good example. The Congress was marred by shooting and allegations of rigging.
The allegations were not made by the PPP/C; it was made by top PNCR leaders, namely Spokesperson on Finance, Carl Greenidge; former PNCR General Secretary Aubrey Norton; and former PNCR Member of Parliamentarian (MP) Clarissa Riehl.
Urging all to come out and vote, Dr Singh said a vote for the PPP/C on May 11, is more than a vote in support of the ruling party, stressing that it will be a vote to ensure the continuation of progress.
By Tajeram Mohabir