Dear Editor,
I have noticed that since Mr Samad Bacchus embraced and spoke on the political platform of AFC+APNU he has come under scorching attack by a section of the media and some politicians who are in the government, as if he has no right to belong to a political party of his choice. When Mr Bacchus spoke on the PPP platform of the PPP for decades, no one from the opposition parties criticized or attacked him; the PPP were happy that he could donate boatloads of rice and hampers to the Amerindians in the Pomeroon and Moruka.
There was a severe drought during Janet Jagan’s tenure, and food and water were scarce. To get into the riverine areas, I went on a trip with Ali Baksh, the late Fazal Ali, former general secretary of the RPA. The donations were in the vicinity of millions of dollars, and came as a consequence of Mr Baksh’s good heart for the Amerindian people. He also helped the poor and downtrodden in this region while he was with PPP.
Often times he gave the party his tarmac and cricket ground to hold public meetings; I spoke there at a WPO anniversary with Robert Persaud and Sabra Bashir, who was in charge of the organization here in Region Two. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Moses Nagamootoo also shared the political platform there on his ground. How much nastier can politics get if you are supporting another political party of your choice?
Mr Bacchus did not coerce or force his workers to be with him at the APNU+AFC rally at Damon Park, Anna Regina; they did so of their own free will. Moreover, his workers were not coerced to support PPP rallies and meetings in the past. The fresh coalition and the unity team are having a liberating impact on all Guyana. I still hold very strongly to my point of view. No one can deny that Mr Bacchus and his workers played a leading role in the great struggle for the return to democracy in 1992, with Dr Cheddi Jagan’s PPP/C. By sensing defeat, the PPP, it now seems, has a fallback plan of tarnishing the character of former supporters by any means, and discrediting them. The hostile media, mainly some private television stations, are key players in giving disparaging portrayals of opposition figures or those who joined them for a better Guyana. Many persons actually believed the media lies planted mainly by anti-APNU+AFC propaganda manipulators.
This incitement is intended to arouse anger and to provoke retaliation by Mr Sam Baksh and the opposition parties, but it will not materialize because Sam is a quiet and honest man and will continue to ignore the propaganda, lies and half truths in the PPP controlled media and television stations. This businessman and a prominent lawyer displayed tremendous courage in standing firm on the APNU+AFC political platform against the crude bullyism. With this scenario still emerging, supporters and well-wishers would like to see Guyana live peacefully and harmoniously in love and unity, regardless of who is the winner of this general and regional election.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
