GENERAL elections will be held in Guyana on November 28, 2011. The race is off at lightening speed with the usual fiery campaign speeches and promises from the would-be aspirants to high office. They are all making those strong appeals to woo voters to their camp with the sole aim of securing a victory and forming the government for the next five years. Above the din, the silent inner voice of reason steps in to help you make that all important decision come elections day. Hence, it is prudent for us to make a thorough and comprehensive look at the three main political parties. From the outset, it was destined to be a three-horse race. No doubt about that, you have PPP/C, APNU and AFC each one shouting at the top of its lungs, “vote for me!”

The PPP/C has for two decades boasted focused and decisive leadership which saw a transformation and near makeover of our country. They have a rich history with a good track record of infrastructure building, education, health care and above all prudent fiscal management at a time when the international community was at a standstill.
These past 19 years has seen our country grow and this has instilled hope and renewed vigour for the South American republic. Therefore, presidential and prime ministerial hopefuls Donald Ramotar and Samuel Hinds have nothing to fear but to build on an already sound foundation. With such a formidable stand, losing this election is not an option; the only consideration now, is to win and to do so by the widest of margins.
For the other rival comrade PNC, there is a dubious past which they are trying to camouflage under the name APNU. Theirs is a vain attempt to mislead the electorate that they have changed. Here we bring you glad tidings of great joy of a new tomorrow!
But I have news for them, because a new name  certainly cannot buy votes. It simply does not work that way. People look at individuals and by extension their party and this spells doom for the Granger-led pack. When you look at Granger we see an oppressive, brutal, military man, one who served his dictator leader Burnham well during the civil rights movement of the 70s and 80s. He suppressed all forms of free expression, one of which saw the brutal slayings of the two PPP activists at Number 63 village. Granger cannot extricate himself from his ghoulish past, so, presenting a patchwork with a lost soul such as Roopnarine makes matters even worst.

Coming in the distance is the AFC, a motley group of rejects. You have Ramjattan a PPP/C reject who has no real relevance either inside his party or in the wider community. Raphael Trotman, who is the de facto leader of that group is just biding his time until elections are over to violently topple Ramjattan and “take back” the leadership. Nagamootoo, the new kid on the block, hopes to garnish a chunk of PPP/C votes but this is a mistaken dream of his, because voters view him as a betrayer, hence he brings nothing to the table.

So while this acrimonious struggle rages on within the AFC, the electorate has quietly solidified their support for the sole party they can rely on for tried and trusted leadership. I know that party that will command the attention vis- a- vis the votes come November 28. It is a foregone conclusion.