THIS week, the public was told by General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo that he is aware that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and its supporters in the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) are engaged in acts of intimidation and threats of violence against those Afro-Guyanese who have either supported the PPP/C as candidates or backers for the June 12 local government polls.

He said that he was not having it and would more than likely call on the Guyana Police Force to investigate these reports of intimidation. Jagdeo made it clear too that any person or victim of fraud or unscrupulous acts should report their case to the Police now regardless of who is the alleged perpetrator.

Jagdeo was convinced that APNU does not “own” Afro-Guyanese and was not really concerned about their well-being and progress in Georgetown, Berbice, Bartica and Linden, to name a few areas. He said that Afro-Guyanese have the right to decide what is best for themselves as guaranteed by the Constitution and the UN Charter among other doctrines and laws.

Jagdeo is definitely correct, and right to say that Afro-Guyanese are entitled to choose whom they associate with and their political party of choice.

If these persons choose the PPP/C over the APNU to support as either candidates or backers, then they should not be the target of any political campaign or be made to feel victimised.

It is foolish to comprehend how stupid and backward one has to be, to tell them they are being used, and cannot choose which political party they feel has their best interest at heart, in 2023. Also, the opposition and their henchmen who are doing this act, must be prosecuted and the long arm of the law applied where necessary.

If the APNU wants remorse or empathy for their loss of support, they will not find any sympathy from the public, especially Afro-Guyanese who have grown tired of the internal fight, incompetence, mismanagement, internal politics, rancour and political stench coming from Congress Place. They are tired of the talk and dialogue about race and discrimination, and the alleged looming apartheid.

Afro-Guyanese want a leader who thinks with his brains and sees issues for what they are, and not through the lenses of race. They know that if they stay, like lambs, the next eventuality in the realm of opposition politics is that they will be slaughtered or a game of collateral damage will take place.

So, the public would see justification in the move of Patricia Chase-Green, Malcolm Ferreira, Trichria Richards and many others who crossed over to the PPP because PNC/APNU’s record does not inspire confidence or impress them.

As a matter of fact, the APNU+AFC track record was one of poor contract execution, endless contractual problems and project flaws in Georgetown, Linden and Bartica to name a few. The drains, streets and communities in Afro-Guyanese areas are in a state of morbid decline with no emphasis on wholesome infrastructure and development after the APNU+AFC had access to the public purse from 2015 to 2020.

And, only a fool could not see why the PPP/C, with all its baggage, could now attract support from Afro-Guyanese in this modern age.

The bottom line is the APNU+AFC Administration did nothing for Afro-Guyanese while in office, except give lands, houses, fat salaries and perks to a small few of their supporters. They were allegedly discriminatory and racist to their hard-core support bases, handing out tickets to shows, and throwing banquets and dinners for the elites, while the impoverished Afro-Guyanese community stayed in the same state of hopelessness and despair.

Also, the PPP/C should not take these reports lightly or should never back down from supporting the hundreds of Afro-Guyanese who are proud to wear their red t-shirts, become candidates, and back the party in any election.

PPP/C should know that they are creating an impact in the many depressed communities and Afro-Guyanese communities which were once considered ‘Palm Tree’ areas and APNU.

The party should never apologise for embracing its nature as the only party in Guyana that has a multiethnic approach that is aimed at achieving the modern and futuristic vision of President Irfaan Ali’s ‘One Guyana’.

In politics, the public has assessed the situation and knows the PNC-APNU strategy. They will intimidate and photoshop claims of fraud because they cannot win another election. On one hand, the APNU is going to the polls to face the public and on the other hand, they are already making a case for why they are going to be defeated – the list and fraud.

So, the public will support any Afro-Guyanese who wants to stand with PPP or APNU, and the same goes for Indians like Khemraj Ramjattan, Ganesh Mahipaul, Geeta Chandan-Edmond and any other ethnic group because Guyana is fighting to end race politics and political racism.

Finally, the Opposition headed by Aubrey Norton can still redeem itself, and run a very spirited campaign that borders on issues in the local government system. They do not have to be ‘thuggish’ and intimidatory to Afro-Guyanese. They do not have to threaten violence or stop the Local Government Elections from taking place.

They could be a mature and responsible political contender aiming to get back whatever support it lost after the 2020 elections in areas that are perceived as being their strongholds.

Afro-Guyanese are not pawns in the game of power that politicians just play and decide to pit against each other. They are a group of intelligent political thinkers who do not stay silent or mince words if it is not necessary. If they are to be looked at, addressed and spoken to respectfully, then they can vote responsibly at the polls.

Boxing them in is not the answer. Intimidating and threatening them is not the answer.

When will the Opposition PNC/R-APNU come out of this state of confusion, oblivion, and bitterness and realize that the individual Afro-Guyanese is not for sale, and can never be owned? Remember, the slavers tried it and they failed. It happened throughout the eras of colonialism and indentureship, yet they failed.

It is often said people who forget their history are bound to repeat it, making the same mistakes twice and thrice. Afro-Guyanese will never forget the atrocities of the PNC-APNU and as such, it will never be repeated in these modern times.