Dear Editor,
In spite of the persistence of racial voting in Guyana, the November 28 election was historic because of the hung Parliament. A clever opposition can use this leverage to bring about many positive changes for the society. The PPP was denied a majority in spite of its dominance in the state media, its use of state property for electioneering and the billions it spent. I have come to accept that the single most important factor in this outcome was Mr Moses Nagamootoo. An economist would say the marginal votes he contributed are premium.
They are much more valuable than those that would have been cast regardless along the ethnic divide. These are the votes that made the outcome possible and set the stage for potential opposition control of parliament. This is no simple achievement. It is a great historical event.
Therefore, I support Mr Nagamootoo’s candidacy for the Speaker of Parliament. From a strategic point of view, APNU would want to make sure the voters who turned out in Berbice do not ‘go back home.‘ Unfortunately in a race-centred society like Guyana, the votes of the AFC are not certain. I hope APNU will be magnanimous enough and help to shore up the AFC’s tenuous support.
There might very well not be the premium votes come next time and the outcome in parliament might not be this fortuitous if the opposition does not manage this gain skilfully. Given the many critical things APNU and AFC must work towards over the next five years, they do not want this position to be claimed by the PPP.
If APNU and AFC act wisely they can collectively dismantle the Jagdeo-engineered oligarchy. Time will tell.
Yours faithfully,
Tarron Khemraj
