THE no-confidence motion and its concomitant high political drama is like a scorpion that stung the dead electorate horse and caused it to 1gallop. What began as a normal Guyana shopping Friday before Christmas culminated in arguably the most tumultuous event in Guyana’s modern political history.

The results of the vote produced Romanesque and Shakespearean drama that corralled the Parliament and eventually found its way onto the busy Christmas shopping streets of Georgetown and in communities throughout Guyana.

Let us rewind to November 11 when the local government elections were held. At the end of this process, it was revealed that only 34 per cent of registered voters participated in this very important national duty. The GECOM chairman characterised this reality as the ‘apostasy of the electorate.’ I have argued that it is a bit farfetched to make sweeping conclusions about the electorate and I am sticking to this position. The lack of interest was great cause for national concern.

However, my business here and now is to allude to and highlight the general lack of interest in political debates, writings and matters of national consequence that prevail in our society. I liken this to the dead horse. It is extremely difficult to get interest in deep intellectual matters of consequence that affect the affairs of this polity. I have personally experienced straining every sinew in my body to get persons to see the implications of parliamentary bills or to even view and discuss parliamentary debates. I could recall screaming to bring interest and attention to the Cyber Crime Bill. I felt like a lonely boy in the wilderness watching the debate on the Guyana Parliament website.

On Friday, December 21st, Georgetown was buzzing with business everywhere. Public servants joined the lines of the automated telling machines to extract their year-end bonanza issued by the government in the 2019 budget. I made a few errands and hastily clamoured to my laptop to watch the debate on the no-confidence motion, resigned in my faith that this hobby of mine is a solitary affair that would not arouse much interest from many. The numerous requests I received for an update from friends and strangers was the first sign that suggested to me that this affair would receive unprecedented interest from the general public.

The moment of truth arrived when the roll call was in process and MP Persaud repeated his emphatic ‘Yes. Yes, Yes’; these words resonated through every crevice, nook and cranny of Guyana’s political existence. For the first time in my experience paying attention to Guyanese politics, political science took precedence over the hustle, a fashion trend, the latest song, the inconsequential and frivolity. The horse was stung and he began to gallop. Suddenly, persons are pumped to vote, join a movement, push for constitutional reform and more. This augurs well for our democracy. May the energy be harnessed in the most positive way.