–Prime Minister warns party supporters

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo, running once again for the prime ministerial candidacy of the Alliance For Change (AFC), has warned supporters to beware of those trying to create division among party members.

The prime minister said the preservation of unity remains one of the top priorities of the party.

On Sunday, in his ‘My Turn’ Column, Nagamootoo spoke to the heightened public conversations in anticipation of the AFC’s biennial conference to be held this week.

At the conference, AFC delegates will determine the party’s general strategy and elect new leaders, including the prime ministerial candidate to serve in the next General and Regional Elections.

Vying for the top position along with Nagamootoo is Minister of Public Security and AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan.

In his column, Nagamootoo said that while it is normal for moments prior to the conference to be filled with “intense lobbying and inner-party campaigns”, differences expressed will not result in the party’s demise.

In fact, he stated, that the way in which party leaders can deal with differences expressed at the conference, yet move forward collectively towards the greater good will allow for the AFC’s image to shine.

“… the enemies of the party expect to see blood on the floor of the conference. Like the fabled but terrifying witch-doctors, they have been concocting a toxic devil’s brew of division and personality clashes amongst AFC leaders. They have been preparing the ‘wake’ for the party’s death. None of that has happened in the past, and I doubt that the prophets of doom would succeed in sowing the seeds of division at the upcoming event,” Nagamootoo said.

Cutting to the chase and to the elephant in the room, the prime minister acknowledged that members of the Opposition and the media have begun to paint an image of contention between himself and Ramjattan.

But, he contended, “This image unwittingly is being projected by the fickle detractors who have been advertising the conference as a battle for pre-eminence between the party’s super-weights. In a wicked, racist obsession over the AFC’s actual strength and electoral appeal, they have singled out the foremost Indo-Guyanese as chief contenders, setting one up against the other, in a manufactured frenzy over power. It wouldn’t work!”

AVOID FACTIONALISM

Going down memory lane to some of the most notable splits within large parties such as the split in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1955, he said that the AFC must follow suit.

“I expect open dissent on major issues. Dissent is the lifeblood of any democratic political movement. What should be avoided are factionalism and division. The AFC, though vibrant, is still young and small. Like a tiny canoe, it has to learn how to navigate the big waves. It has to learn from our own contemporary political history, which is full of examples where dissent and dogmatism had resulted in major divisions,” Nagamootoo said.

“The AFC cannot walk along this polluted putrid path. It must reach for the mountain top of selfless leadership and unity in its ranks,” he added.

At the conference, Nagamootoo stated that it is likely that the AFC will re-examine its decision to run independently at last November’s Local Government Elections (LGE).

The AFC has been criticised by its rivals for receiving low votes in comparison to the larger parties, namely the PPP and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) at the 2018 LGEs.

“While it mustered the requisite vote to validate its role as an authentic Third Force, the Coalition’s overall performance was dismal,” he observed.

Nagamootoo stated that a review could be taken on the impact of the decision on the Coalition and the national interest.

With the Coalition entering its fifth year in office, Nagamootoo stated that it is also expected that an honest review of its performance will take place.

He said that while the Coalition’s success far outweighs its shortcomings, mistakes, its weaknesses and deficiencies in certain good-governance practices will be examined.

Delegates will have the opportunity to openly declare their confidence in the Coalition and its leadership, especially so since discussions on the betrayal of former AFC Member of Parliament (PM) Charrandas Persaud will also arise.

The AFC was formed by leaders Khemraj Ramjattan; Raphael Trotman and the late Sheila Holder.

It remains a key partner in the Coalition Government, contributing to the one-seat majority held in the National Assembly.