For over a year the political parties in Guyana were locked in an intense struggle for ascendency. They battled for over one year from NCM to elections, and then another five months from elections to declaration. However, during this period Guyana and Guyanese demonstrated to the world that Guyana is not a banana republic. Principals on both sides conducted themselves with the discipline that ensured the situation did not degenerate. Guyana and Guyanese could applaud themselves, we battled for 18 months and emerged a peaceful society. Congratulations!
This is not to say thing are settled. Yes, there was a declaration and the PPP candidate was sworn in, but the issue of fraudulent votes is not dead. I expect the APNU-AFC coalition will head to the court with an election petition, which will be supported by robust political action. Supporters have to stay mobilized.
This is why it is worrying to see disappointed supporters turning their wrath on President Granger. This is a PPP dream becoming reality. In 1992, the brouhaha between Desmond Hoyte and Hamilton Green cause PNC fangs to turn inwards, and the PPP made merry. While the PNC was distracted by internal squabbles, the PPP gutted the public service, destroyed black businesses, and in the process created a semi apartheid state.
At this juncture, even the most ardent supporter must accept we reached the end of the road. The courts would not respect the constitution, the world was against us, and GECOM Chairman, Justice Claudette Singh, was not going to declare any result that did not show a PPP victory.
The call for President Granger to seize unconstitutional power was ill advised. Violence, which we maturely avoided, and an unconstitutional situation could have been the pretext for American military boots on the ground in Georgetown. This is the last thing we should want.
Imagine a US General, from Alabama or Mississippi being the military officer in charge of governance of Guyana for 6 to 12 months. Those who felt the US would arrive and leave in 2 weeks were sadly mistaken. The reality is, they would have been in Guyana for months, even years, and we would have emerged with a transformed political landscape, dismantled local business sector, and pre-independence social dynamics. We dodged a bullet.
It is for this reason APNU-AFC supporters have to remain focused and energized. There will be PPP agent provocateurs shouting, “I not voting for APNU-AFC again,” “Granger is weak,” and “I am finish, let the PPP do what they want.” This will be in an effort to cause supporters to disengage and allow the PPP to run riot. Don’t be fooled, at this time we must hold the line of battle, and link our hands in unity. We have time to look at internal issues, but right now we have two major issues; a robust political posture as we prosecute the election petition, and preventing a repeat of the decimation and ethnic cleansing that occurred in 1992.