NOTHING that the AFC and its leaders say could ever be taken seriously and never could anyone believe them. They were very clear – they will never join any coalition with APNU, but if APNU wanted, APNU could dissolve itself under the leadership of the AFC. When confronted earlier because the secret meetings were not so secret after all, they were adamant that they would never join a coalition with the PNC or its alter-ego, APNU. They claimed that they could win an election by themselves and that they are not a small party. They claimed that the PNC and other parties must join them, but they are not interested in joining anyone.

Ramjattan proclaimed mightily that only the AFC can lead any coalition. They sent out their accolades in Regions 5 and 6 where their supporters were loud in rejecting the idea. Their newest member – Professor Samad indeed could not be clearer in denying there was any talk about a coalition, saying that he and others would never allow the AFC to enter into a coalition with the PNC-led APNU. It was not only Professor Samad, other leaders of the AFC were careful to let everyone know that it was not in the interest of the AFC or Guyana for the AFC to become a part of APNU. The secret discussions were about seeing who, groups or individuals, might want to join the AFC.
Now the truth is out of the bag – AFC has dissolved itself into APNU, under the leadership of the PNC and of the Leader of the PNC, David Granger. Now they sing David Granger’s praise. Nagamootoo is proud to say that he went to the same school as Granger. But there was a time when the mighty voice and pen of Nagamootoo denounced the army in which Granger was a leader for helping to rig elections and for terrorising the Guyanese population. Today a person that both Ramjattan and Nagamootoo used to be fearful of is their hero.
I have always had a respectful relationship with Professor Samad. He has treated me with respect and I have treated him with respect. It is under such circumstances that I now ask Professor Samad to be truthful. Is he denying that he said there was no intention of AFC to join with the PNC in a coalition? He said so and people in Regions 5 and 6 believed him. What has Professor Samad to say now? I challenge Professor Samad to show people he is driven by integrity – let him go on television and say that he never said that the AFC will not join in a coalition.
Maybe Professor Samad was lied to and misled by his new leaders, those that promised him much. But Professor Samad in order to maintain his integrity need to admit that he was misled by Ramjattan and Nagamootoo. Poor Professor Samad now is learning that he is but a pawn of these deceitful leaders. He should not feel too bad because others said the same thing.
I challenge Professor Samad, a very intelligent man, to tell me that Ramjattan did not himself say the same thing – that the AFC will not form a coalition with APNU unless APNU wanted to come under the leadership of the AFC. We must be upfront with our people. When I listened to Professor Samad and other AFC leaders that they would never join in a coalition with APNU, under the leadership of a PNC leader I believed them. I am disappointed, just like the AFC supporters around Guyana. The AFC dissolved itself into the PNC under the leadership of Granger. That is the plain truth and very different from the story they told not so long ago, repeatedly around the nation, but almost daily in Regions 5 and 6.
I am not disappointed because I believed that they have improved their chances to win an election – but that they lied so easily and effortlessly. Mr. Nagamootoo in 2011 wanted to be Speaker. The AFC abandoned him and proposed Trotman. Now he wanted to be the Presidential candidate of the AFC. But they made him the runner-up. Nothing these people say suggests they can ever be trusted. They have moved from no chance to win an election to now becoming relics of the past – totally rejected by the people.
They voted with the PNC-led APNU almost 100% of the time in Parliament. In 2011, they concentrated almost exclusively in PPP strongholds and allowed APNU to stay unchallenged in their strongholds. Now everyone knows the truth – APNU and the AFC had a deal and developed a strategy for the AFC to focus their attention in the PPP strongholds. Now in APNU’s 2015 campaign they intend to use AFC leaders to represent APNU in the PPP stronghold.
Why such blatant lies to innocent people? Quite simply, it is because of the lure of power. Nagamootoo said to the PPP/C – President or nothing. Poor Ramjattan, he now has to deal with Nagamootoo’s ambition and hunger for power. Nagamootoo has no interest in Guyana and its people – he is just so engrossed in himself that he would betray anyone in order to get his hands on power. He is not driven to make Guyana better; he is driven by his lust for power and his lust for vengeance. The truth is, had the AFC not agreed to the coalition, Nagamootoo would have made his own deal.
Anyone wonders why Nagamootoo and Ramjattan have been quiet throughout the Rodney CoI? They used to be at one time loud in condemning the PNC for the assassination of Rodney and others. Now they have joined those with blood on their hands. As they bow to their new leader, would they ask him to go to the Rodney COI and tell them what he knows about the brutal murder of Walter Rodney? This is what happens with power-hungry people – they conveniently forget each other’s misdeeds.
Now the people who voted for them because they could never support the PNC know that they were deceived in 2011. They were always part of the PNC and they can no longer hide their stripes. They had to end up at home and home they are now. The sad truth is that they expected to take many others with them, through sinister and deceitful strategies. They are hopeful that they could fool the people that they did NOT sell out. But they not only sold out, they baptised themselves as loyal and faithful PNC accolades. The truth sets people free – the people the AFC deceived into supporting them have been liberated by the truth. The AFC, Nagamootoo and Ramjattan have become prisoners of their own deceit.

DR. LESLIE RAMSAMMY