GUYANA’S politics have its asinine and comical ingredients that are hard to find in another country. At my age, I have been observing the world for a long time now and I truly believe that Guyana’s politics is characterised by unusual hilarities and stupidities that you do not see in any other country.
We start with Azruddin Mohamed who said that WIN will not name a prime ministerial candidate because the public identification could bring about state victimisation. This statement is not only devoid of common sense, but it is unadulterated stupidity.
WIN has a campaign machinery that has a manager. WIN has a list of 65 nominations of which the names are public. The factor that highlights the stupidity is how come multiple dozens of persons are publicly connected to WIN and WIN’s campaign, but WIN is only afraid of potential victimisation of just one person – the prime ministerial candidate.
Looked at from any angle, this just does not make sense. And it makes people not only laugh at WIN but question its integrity. Why aren’t the other contesting parties afraid of state targeting? They have named their prime ministerial candidates. So, what is the real reason? There may be in fact, several determinants. One is that WIN does not have a credible person to be the second important face on its platform.
WIN may be reluctant to fast forward that person’s name out of fear that it may damage the face of WIN. Another reason may be the ego of Azruddin Mohamed. He has hyped up his one-man thing to insane levels that he may not be comfortable with him sharing the spotlight with another WIN personality.
In election campaigns, Guyana has long been accustomed to the two big names in the battle – presidential slot and the running mate. Guyanese have come to accept that formula and look forward to it.
A third reason may be that there is a big fight within WIN as to who should have the PM slot and in naming someone, others who have lost out, may leave the campaign and Mohamed is not prepared to take that chance.
Over to Amanza Walton Desir’s party, the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM). There is only one word to describe FGM’s court case to postpone the election – barefacedness. Her party did not field candidates for several regions. Yet on the ballot papers for all the regions, FGM wants her party’s name and symbol to be printed. There is no greater egregious example of this than having your cake yet wanting to eat it.
The PPP, APNU, WIN are contesting the general and regional elections in the 10 regions of Guyana. Their party’s names and symbols will be on the ballot. How can the court erase the weakness of FGM by giving that party the status that the PNC, APNU and WIN have? That is unfair.
It was in the political interest of FGM to field a slate in every region. If it could not do that, then it accepted its limitation and it should live with it. But no! FGM wants the courts to overlook its limitation and make its election status as national as the PPP’s, APNU’s and WIN’s. I repeat; that cannot be fair.
Let’s see how this thing will actually work in the polling station. John James goes into a polling station in Region Nine. On the ballot is the name of FGM. John James then puts an X beside the FGM for a seat in the Regional Democratic Council for Region Nine. But FGM in its submission to GECOM did not present a list for the Regional Democratic Council. By what logic is that a normal procedure?
Finally, “mouth open, story jump out.” PNC big wig, Mervyn Williams attacked Azruddin Mohamed at a PNC campaign meeting at Vreed-En-Hoop, warning Guyanese of the trouble their country might be in if Azruddin is elected. At the announcement of the election date, every party was ganging up against the incumbent.
A signpost was put up by the PNC and AFC that says that if they team up, then, all other small parties will join under an anti-PPP umbrella. Now it is every man for himself. The PNC is attacking Team Mohamed.
The AFC’s prime ministerial candidate took a subtle dig at Mohamed. What happened to the rainbow coalition that was formed under the tent of the Adriana Younge drowning incident? The umbrella and tent have collapsed, and the PNC and AFC are gunning for WIN to make sure WIN doesn’t win votes at their expense. Too little, too late

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.