AUBREY NORTON did the required first-year philosophy course at UG with Theo Morris before I started teaching that course. I do not know if Morris had Arthur Koestler on his reading list. For all the years I taught that course, I had Koestler on my course outline.
Koestler remains one of my favourite learned humans that I have gained knowledge from. His essential contribution to ontology was that twist it or turn it, looked at from any angle, Homo sapiens is a flawed species and there is nothing society or science can do about it.
Former PPP Minister of Education, Dr. Dale Bisnauth (deceased) was not a fan of Koestler. Of course that is easy to understand. Dr. Bisnauth was a Christian theologian. About 30 years ago, Dr. Bisnauth wrote a scathing critique of Koestler’s work in the PPP’s newspaper, The Mirror. I asked students to juxtapose Bisnauth’s essay with the essential arguments of Koestler.
I don’t know if Aubrey Norton studied Koestler when he did philosophy with Theo Morris but Koestler is important in understanding the hypocrisy of Norton and his colleague, James Mc Allister who two days ago came to the rescue of (Norton’s rescue is impossible – Guyana’s politics is cruel) over the exit of Amanza Walton-Desir and those who are planning against Norton.
For those too young to remember, James McAllister, Aubrey Norton and Vincent Alexander did to the then-leader of the PNC, Robert Corbin, what those in the PNC are now doing to Norton. Three times in these columns of mine I noted that Norton was getting a taste of his own medicine.
As soon as he succeeded Desmond Hoyte after the latter’s death, Corbin had to contend with guerrilla warfare led by Norton, Alexander and McAllister. This triumvirate weakened the Corbin leadership of the PNC. It was this guerrilla warfare that pushed Corbin into the arms of Rupert Roopnaraine and led to the formation of APNU and the disappearance of Corbin.
Corbin fought back after Alexander challenged him for leadership. It was a sordid leadership battle that saw Corbin winning under questionable circumstances. One of the manifestations of this sordidness took place on the street where I grew up – D’Urban Street. As time moved closer to congress, the PNC produced a number of delegates from the Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust group.
The PNC announced a 66 membership of the group which was defunct and the building that housed the group was derelict. It was through this kind of corrugated process that Corbin staved off the challenge from Alexander.
Corbin removed McAllister from Parliament. He asked Alexander to resign as a PNC commissioner on GECOM. Alexander refused. This is an analysis for a forthcoming column.
While McAllister migrated and Alexander resigned from the PNC, Norton carried the fight to Corbin and it reached the High Court. It was an internecine battle that almost killed the PNC, saved only by the birth of APNU. It is unadulterated hypocrisy of McAlister to chastise Walton-Desir and others for internal fighting when McAllister and Norton almost gave Corbin a heart attack.
One of the persons close to the triumvirate at the time (and still do after all these years) was David Hinds. This is a man who does not own up to his past life and explains why he changed but simply denies things that he is on record of saying.
David told me that McAllister, Alexander and Norton were assertive in their demand that Corbin step down because he cannot be their leader. David told me that. I hope he has the decency, ethical structure and political bravery to acknowledge that he told me that these three men did not accept Corbin as the PNC leader.
All Walton-Desir, Roysdale Forde, Simona Broomes, Ubraj Narine, Annette Ferguson, Norman Browne and others have done to the leadership of the PNC under Norton is what the triumvirate and their acolytes did to Corbin. It is completely ghoulish how history is repeating itself in the PNC. Corbin became leader with senior PNC bigwigs saying you should not be leader.
Corbin then faced a rebellion from within and from without. The Mulatto/Creole class (MCC) said you cannot be our leader; class and colour are the things you don’t have and we are not giving you money, we will have our own MCC party and they did.
Norton faced a rebellion from within and from without. The MCC has told Norton since 2022 that he cannot be their leader and he has received not a cent from them since. Now another MCC party, Forward Guyana, has been formed to weaken the PNC. The AFC stole six seats from Corbin. How many seats will Forward Guyana steal? McAllister and Corbin have proved Koestler right. We humans are flawed.
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