Dear Editor,

NEIL Sadaka’s song, “Breaking up is hard to do,” hit No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 11th August, 1962.

Did Amanza Walton-Desir remember the lyrics which caused her to shed some tears while reading her statement/resignation, as she waved au revoir to the PNC? Perhaps, the Manhattans “Let’s just kiss and say goodbye,” must have been on the mind of Juretha Fernandes (and others?) as she walked away from the AFC.

This song incidentally made it to the No. 1on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart in 1976.

The Peoples National Congress (R?) PNC, is not only caught between a rock and a hard place, but is also limping as a wounded animal.

The leader is alone in a holed canoe, without a paddle and rudder and at sea with stormy waves. He is contemplating grabbing at the nearest straw for survival.

Time is running out, his choice is limited and his back is against the wall. The frustrated, anguished and unsettled members are sitting on a time bomb as they try to resolve a way forward from “quicksand.”

Mark Anthony said that Julius Caesar was ambitious and Brutus is an honourable man. Yet, Brutus hugged Caesar and stabbed him only to be destroyed by Anthony.

Dr Walter Rodney, founder of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) was allegedly murdered at the behest of the founder of the PNC. Burnham had termed the WPA as the “Worst Possible Alternative.”

Today, the WPA is in bed with the PNC with stained hands from the blood of WAR. Those who will not learn from mistakes are bound to repeat them. Will there be “Déjà vu?”

When we ultimately move, we should firmly move with due care and careful consideration and at the said time, certainly with no fear and favour. The Alliance For Change (AFC), has been referred to as “Dead Meat” since 2020 for good and obvious reasons.

Their false promises and fallacious pretext to the sugar workers laid the foundation for the closure of four sugar estates and the laying off of some 7,000 (seven thousand) sugar workers.

The AFC trapped innocent Guyanese who are no longer gullible or naïve. It didn’t work for them in 2020 and it will not work either in 2025.

No Guyanese will ever trust the AFC again and so, this timely move is not surprising as members abandon a rotten, sinking ship. Sober-minded Guyanese have a conscience and will eventually do the right thing and will not continue to play with mud.

Mind you, the captain is not made of the calibre of that of “The Titanic!” Self-interest, greed for power, money hunger, an opportunist, are only some of the qualities which are being exhibited by the one who is clothed with conflict of interests and wants to suck cane and whistle at the said time, but is oblivious to losing corn and husk. For Guyanese it’s a done deal: no more AFC ever again!

The smelly stuff is hitting the fan and many elephants in the room are running for cover to shed new skins. But tigers do not change their stripes. To move Guyana forward, it must be with a high degree of foresight with the support of the ABCEU, CARICOM and the Guyanese voters.

It cannot be with a low perception of hindsight which cannot gain favour from the international, regional and local communities!

Those who clamour for change must first remember to be the change and not forget that true change is when the powerful kneel so that the weak can rise.

The formation of any new group must be solidified to propagate peace, progress and prosperity and not only to insinuate to be truthful, to avoid violence, shun racism, not to discriminate nor to preach propaganda.

Any new group must be built on a foundation of complete trust to consolidate and practise dignity, honesty and harmony which will engage, equitable distribution, respect for law and order and abide by rules and regulations. Will this pose an impossible challenge or be a recurring nightmare?

Guyana is sitting on a pedestal where it can accommodate least risks, cannot leave its destiny in the hand of chance nor allow amateurs to undermine its cycle of recovery.

This nation is dependent on professionalism, so that mediocrity cannot derail the pace of development, its economic gains will continue to multiply, her steep progress is guaranteed on an upward trend and no one should rock the boat of established, workable and profitable relationships.

New faces, tried, tired and failed heads will only expose their weakness and failure because they lack the stealth and wealth of valued experience, which establishes a proven, successful track record.

At his inaugural address in March 2022 to the General Council of the PNCR at Sophia, Georgetown, Aubrey Norton posited that he will, “restore the party to the glorious days of Forbes Burnham….” Isn’t this digging a hole for himself and the PNC?

Guyanese do not want to return to the dreaded days of living in a hole like the final days of Saddam Hussain and under a dictator like Burnham. Guyana is sailing on the wings of democracy, thanks to President Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C government.

Jessie Burnham, the sister of LFSB wrote that Burnham wanted “Leader or nothing.” She warned, “when you mark your ballot, remember carefully what I have said and “BEWARE!”

Yours respectfully,

Jai Lall.