IT seems as though Guyana’s opposition political parties are only interested in the limelight and five-minute fame that they are awarded in the local media to spew their divisive rhetoric about shared governance, electoral reforms and political talks.
One would have thought that newly-minted Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, would have changed the political direction of the collective parties towards a new resolve for the better.
Sadly, he is struggling to do so or is satisfied with the way the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change Coalition (APNU+AFC) is representing its supporters on bread and butter issues and the policy decisions that affect their lives.
As if that was not bad enough, no one opposition political party or politician seems to be ready to hold the PPP/C Administration accountable, thereby, forcing it to submit itself to higher levels of transparency and good governance.
Firstly, the current administration is making light work of the opposition political stock, shattering its allegations and philosophy.
It is winning the struggle because the opposition still has not learned to provide the evidence or empirical data to support their arguments and allegations against the PPP. They still are making fanciful statements and comments about discrimination and racism. The opposition must recognise that the electorate expects a higher degree of political representation in this respect.
Where are the facts?
Show the citizens the Statements of Polls.
Illustrate, using the maps and areas/villages where the PPP/C is allegedly guilty of discriminatory and racist practices against Afro-Guyanese.
Where are the alleged illegal land allocation, land grabbing, and siphoning off of oil resources taking place?
The APNU+AFC Coalition does not research the issues comprehensively and arrive at conclusions. The party is proving that it is a cuss-down and hearsay political unit. It cannot use evidence-based rhetoric, quantitative and qualitative evidence, or analytical data to prove any allegation or political belief that it holds.
This explanation of the Opposition behaviour is the reason the PPP/C politicians will continue to win over the minds of all sensible and right-thinking, and academically potent Guyanese.
Secondly, the issue of the electoral reforms is another area in which the opposition, APNU+AFC Coalition is taking a beating from the PPP/C Administration that has decided, since November last year, to consult the people.
The opposition continues to change the goal post to leave room for them to cast aspirations about the focus, quality and coverage. They have decided to withdraw and not make their submissions to the authorities, but yet they engage in the mudslinging propaganda about what GECOM is doing wrong and the flaws they are noticing concerning the registration cycle and elections.
Simply put, the opposition is making excuses because it is widely believed that they are not interested in correcting and remedying the wrongs, flaws, and discrepancies that are part of the process.
The strengthening of the democratic and electoral processes makes it harder to rig an election.
The public does not want the APNU+AFC bright boys to stand on the side. They must submit their recommendations in writing or oral presentation. They must stand firm against rigging, fraud or electoral collusion now since the eyes of ABC countries are upon Guyana.
Is it too much work for the lawyers and academics in the opposition?