–former political adviser to Granger says, endorses PPP/C for second term

WHILE highlighting that President Dr. Irfaan Ali faces no serious challenger at the upcoming polls, Frederick McWilfred, who once headed the Political Division at the Ministry of the Presidency under the David Granger administration, appealed to voters to lock in the President’s second term in office on September 1.

During the airing of “Political Insights”, McWilfred endorsed the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for a second term, and said President Ali’s strength is further reinforced by having one of the greatest politicians of modern time, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, at his side.

“The only viable presidential candidate is President Irfaan Ali,” he said.
While acknowledging public concerns about issues such as project quality under the PPP/C, McWilfred maintained that President Ali has demonstrated political will to lead Guyana’s transformation.

Crucially, he argued that stability requires the PPP/C to return with a parliamentary majority. A repeat of 2011, when the PPP/C held the presidency but lost control of Parliament, would, in his view, “be a disaster for this country”.

He also reflected upon the downfall of the Opposition-the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
The former political adviser spoke about how the APNU+Alliance For Change (AFC) coalition left the opposition fractured, as the AFC, the smaller of the two parties, was sidelined and stripped of its purpose from 2015-2020.

“The APNU+AFC coalition was essentially a PNC government. I think the AFC was destroyed as a political party and political force due to that coalition. The PNC leaders did not treat the AFC as a coalition partner. They were, you know, just pushed aside. They were miniaturised, and they lost their purpose,” McWilfred bluntly stated.
With the AFC being in such a sad shape, he did not express any confidence in the small party even gaining one seat in Parliament.

Addressing the APNU’s state under current leader and presidential hopeful, Aubrey Norton, McWilfred did not mince his words in highlighting how ineffective the party is now.
“I knew then, and I know now; once Aubrey Norton was Leader of the PNC, there would never be a coalition of forces,” he said, speaking off of personal experience that Norton is not the type of person that would allow anyone to suggest to him that in the interest of the coalition, they should have a consensus candidate.

In order for the democratic process to work, he said there needs to be a viable opposition, and the current APNU, according to McWilfred, is at its “worst state” since its formation, and has the “worst leader” since its formation.

“Unfortunately, from 2020, to now, performance of the opposition is really bad. They have not been an effective opposition at all, and I think that’s largely due to Norton’s inability to grasp with issues,” he opined, stating that after elections, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)- the larger party of the APNU- needs to do an introspection.

Turning his attention to OFAC-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed’s political party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), McWilfred said that the party is built on self-centered agendas.