GUYANA has a weak, divided and uninspiring main opposition party engaged in pure shenanigans and political stunts.

It is not representing the interest of the masses. The opposition party — the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition — has not recovered from losing the March 2022 elections.

The levels of disunity, divisiveness, and lack of co-operation are alarming. They signify an opposition in crisis. It is now two years since the Irfaan Ali Administration settled nicely and the APNU+AFC cannot find its opposition footing yet.

It is worrying that after 23 years in the wilderness of Opposition and five barren country years as the Executive Government, APNU+AFC is still having long-winded meetings and engagements trying to find agreements on who should be Guyana’s next Opposition Leader.

Aren’t there no frontrunners left following the ousting of the covert former dictator?
Why is the process taking so long?

In January 2022, Joseph Harmon signalled his intention to step down from the post.
He resigned officially as an MP back on March 15, 2022 and the PNC-led Coalition is still dragging their feet and meeting on the issue. Additionally, they are still to get a replacement for Dr. Nicolette Henry, who resigned from Parliament in February 2022.

This is almost [a]three-month wait for the Coalition to get its act together. It is more complex because of the stubbornness and puerile nature shown by ex-party leader, David Granger, the List representative.
Believe what you want, but Granger’s most recent Cuba trip is being seen as a deliberate delaying tactic. The ever-absent Granger is stalling the process of making PNC Leader Aubrey Norton a parliamentarian.

He is mulling on not naming Norton and another candidate the Coalition wants in Parliament but will consider, allegedly identifying Basil Williams, Eslyn Harris, Van West-Charles, or a newcomer.

All the Opposition party seems to talk about is alleged racism and discrimination through the side of their mouth. It is busy having idle and puerile banter on various issues on social media platforms and Facebook, aimed at getting likes and shares as if this translates into votes in the upcoming elections.

Rome is burning, and the APNU+AFC Coalition does not seem to care.
There is no political activism and meetings with the electorate to assess the mood of Guyanese.

Also, there are no credible forums to hear the citizens’ concerns about issues that are affecting them. So, there is no political representation being made by APNU+AFC parliamentarians. Opposition parliamentarians are having a free period or pass with no one to guide them.

The Opposition party is on auto-pilot. It is not focused on one aim or sector collectively.
Similarly, the public is still waiting for an Opposition party that is capable of mounting formidable and worthwhile challenges to the policy changes and decisions of government.

After all, the opposition is wasting valuable time sorting out internal matters instead of having meaningful political talks with the government. The APNU+AFC Coalition might find it more beneficial to be part and parcel of the government solutions to problems rather than constantly spuriously obstructing the process.

It was Indian politician, Pratibha Patil, who said the Parliament of the country is the repository of the sovereign will of the people and its successful functioning is a joint responsibility of both the government and the Opposition parties.
His words stand in the case of Guyana.

The Opposition party needs a leader now and its full complement of representatives. Democracy and good governance require it. But that Opposition Leader must keep the individual personalities in check and will guide the path to elections in a much more sober, skillful and intelligent manner compared to what is occurring now.

Unless and until there is one main Opposition party to the government, the APNU+AFC Coalition will not convince right-thinking Guyanese that they should choose them against the PPP. They will continue to labour in vain. They cannot be effective in discharging their function as an effective unit because they are weak. They do not have the kind of strength and sober-mindedness to lead Guyana.