Dear Editor,
Mr Nagamootoo did not show up in parliament for the nomination of Brigadier Granger as opposition leader. What is the meaning of this? This need not be alarming at all. There could very well be a positive reason, but given my trend of thought lately, I cannot help speculating.
Mr Raphael Trotman was recently elected to the National Assembly as the Speaker. He shortly after announced that given his new prestigious position he will not contest for the leadership of the AFC. With all these scenarios in play, are we witnessing the eventual demise of the AFC and what it came to represent? Are we a short election period away from the return of contests between just the PPP/C and the PNC? Or is it just my imagination running away with me?
A short time before 2006 two young men, Mr Trotman and Mr Ramjattan captured the attention of Guyanese in the diaspora with their letters and observations in the local press. Given the fact that these men dropped out of the two main political parties, it was refreshing to witness the new and bold ideas they brought to bear.
Quite a lot of people saw this as a new way forward for our nation, and there was an overwhelming request that these two progressive sons of Guyana start a political party, a real multi-racial party, to bring new ideas for the development of Guyana. The AFC was born. I was excited, but extremely sceptical. I was cognizant of a similar situation in the fifties, where two great Guyanese of similar ethnic heritages set poised to take our country away from the ‘imperialists,’ who were sucking our country dry. The ensuing bitter conflicts between these two fellows about who should take the leadership roll are reverberating and contributing to our country’s demise to this day.
I would have preferred to see these two young men wholeheartedly go to the Guyanese people, show real commitment to a multi-racial party and convince us by way of a pledge that history will not repeat itself. What I saw was a lacklustre representation of these values. I did not get the impression that both men were giving 100% to the partnership. I was perplexed.
In comes Nagamootoo to save the major embarrassment I saw building up. He presented an opportunity to build on a real multi-ethnic support for the party. Yet this man is, in my estimation, left hanging. What kind of bad joke is played on the aspirations of so many in Guyana and the diaspora as a whole?
Where do we go from here? Who will be the person stepping up to represent the African half of the whole? Could it be Cathy Hughes or Dr Van West Charles? Is there someone else out there that I am not aware of? Please tell me that my concerns are unwarranted.
If it turns out that I am right I will gloat and gloat I will big time. I am not sharing my concerns because I have nothing better to do. I am truly concerned about Guyana’s development. Curbing racial insecurities is major, but there is much more that is needed to create stability. An influx of cash and investment and creating an environment where every single Guyanese is assured of a job, are mainly necessary.
I am aware of potential investors, Guyanese and others, who are looking on closely at what is happening. They are poised to invest more than US$1 billion of private investment. The quandary is, given these new developments, who to talk to. Given the balance of power in the National Assembly, can the old animosities be quickly thrown aside and relevant ministers along with their shadows in the opposition settle down and come together to work on investment strategies? I wait with bated breath.
Yours faithfully,
F Skinner
