AUBREY Norton thinks the general public is slow, stupid or unintelligently following his People’s National Congress-led A Partnership for National Unity Coalition party’s use of skillful and strategic political rhetoric which can have far-reaching consequences for Guyanese, even resulting in a civil uprising or public disorder.

Norton thinks that the average person is gullible. So, listening to him defending the indefensible, and making the false and fictitious conclusion that what Tacuma Ogunseye said at Buxton aptly describes the situation they face in Guyana, is wrong. It most certainly does not!

He does not think that the public will be able to see further past the language and rhetoric used in PNC, APNU and WPA speeches at public rallies, and in their daily racist diatribe against the government of the day.

Firstly, the Opposition Leader has neither condemned nor differed from the comments and statements made by the WPA and Ogunseye. If anything, he endorsed them and justified them in a more civil and politically appropriate language.

He used skillful rhetoric, making justifications for Ogunseye’s poor political behaviour and language which was seeking to incite the crowd and vilify serving members of the military who are not their supporters or of their ethnic group in society.

Let’s be clear, Norton as the Opposition Leader outright refused to offer the public any sort of satisfaction that public disorder, mayhem and violence against any group would not be the end result of the “struggle” or campaign this year, and as long as he is the figurehead.

Secondly, Norton was crass in speaking about the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and the Cabinet in general throughout the media conference on Thursday last.

Norton appeared unhinged, much like David Hinds and Ogunseye when speaking about politics, the military and the government.

This hints at the fact that Norton cannot be seen as ready for the High Office of the land or as being sober-minded and stable as far as being able to speak about any member of the opposition or any other issue that is wrong in terms of the policy and strategic approach of the combined opposition.

Norton is willing to sacrifice the integrity and political responsibility of the Opposition for the inciteful behaviour of a few bold, daring and unhinged racists in the opposition.

The tone and way are being set for there to be tension and conflict with the authorities in Guyana.

So, should they act too rashly and prematurely in dealing with the issue of political incitement, racism and what was said in Buxton, Norton will have his proverbial pound of flesh in the end because he supports this street-style, quasi-undemocratic and victim-playing in politics both at home, regionally and internationally.

Thirdly, the Indo-Guyanese component in the PNC-led APNU coalition is now seeing Norton’s true nature. They are collateral damage and will all be sacrificed at the altar of political expediency.

Ganesh Mahipaul and Geeta Chandan Edmond are uneasy because Norton is taking a gamble with their core feelings and emotions, all the while hitting back at the internal uprising that he is facing as leader of the PNC and opposition.

Who will now speak for the Indo-Guyanese component in Norton’s fold? He stayed true to his political upbringing as a man who is supportive of one group of the support base and can only appeal to ‘his people’.

He is relying on the AFC to win back the crossover vote when it skillfully crawls back into the coalition arms again before elections.

Fourthly, now the mask has been removed, the PNC and APNU must answer these questions.

Is it a black supremacist party in which the opinions of other ethnic groups are appreciated but do not matter at election time?

Is the support of violence and inciting riotous behaviour in the country a means of political warfare?

Does Norton support violence and moving to the streets in pursuit of what he calls the struggle against alleged discrimination and racism?

Does he support law and order, civil, political and legal action against the temptation to be ‘dogs of war’, thuggish, immature and irresponsible people in politics?

These are questions that need to be put to rest once and for all in the lead-up to local government and general polls.

Finally, Norton’s behaviour will only get worse in the coming months.

Everything points to a desperate political leader who is clutching at straws and clinging to the race and discrimination cards so that the Guyanese public will be sorry for him and vote accordingly.

Norton’s action now is an indication of the PNC-led APNU posture when leaders like Ogunseye try to push the racial and violent envelope of their supporters at election time.

This is not mature and sensible politics. This is going back down the road that saw Guyana at the point of derailing its democracy because of irresponsible political leaders who tried but failed to rig elections.

These street-style tactics and bullyism were used by former Presidents Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte. They failed even though their supporters unleashed hell on Guyana. In opposition, Hoyte and Robert Corbin failed throughout the 2000s but new responsible tactics and rhetoric resulted in David Granger assuming the Presidency.

Norton will shape his legacy with how he acts henceforth. He is down two strikes but there is still time to go!