Tonight a child asked me why Mondale Smith was crying. He wanted to know, what we have to make Mondale understand. I told him Mondale is crying because he loves Guyana. I told him that Mondale Smith understands. With a puzzled expression he said, “but, he is asking people to help him understand.” I repeated, ” Mondale Smith understands.”
In his viral Facebook live on Monday, 17th February 2020, Mondale recounted an exchange he had with a man at the site of the Sachi General Store fire. According to Mondale Smith a man at the site told him he wished the fire was on Election Day. A distraught Mondale was in tears as he related his experience on Facebook. He asked over and over for someone to help him understand, but this is rhetorical.
Mondale Smith understands that the wish for a fire on election day, is a wish for confusion on election day. He understands that a fire on election day will divert critical resources from election security, to fighting and managing the fire. Mondale knows if the elections are not adequately secured, bad actors could take advantage.
Mondale might have wondered if the utterance by a single man, at the site of the fire, could be an insight into a wider campaign. Is this a case where PPP operatives were advised that fire on Election Day is a good thing for the PPP? Mondale might have pondered on how widespread is this sentiment, and if Election Day would bring major conflagrations.
Mondale Smith is right to be worried. In 2011 and 2015, when the PPP saw the writing on the wall, Bharrat Jagdeo went to Babu John and made very divisive statements. At this point in the 2020 campaign, the writing is on the wall once more. The PPP is staring defeat in the face.
Given the significance of these elections, we can expect a robust PPP divisive and disruptive campaign. In a matter of days Bharrat Jagdeo will return to Babu John to launch his divisive agenda. We should not be surprised if there is an event that shocks and paralyzes the nation. Don’t be surprised if “criminals” make orchastrated assaults on sections of the society and the PPP, as prearranged, rushes in make political mileage.
All PPP sorragates, including the PSC, the Stabroek News, and the Kaieteur News, will go into overdrive. Headlines will be crafted to engender fear and dejection. PSC will express disgust at orchestrated and fabricated revelations. Freddie Kissoon will escalate his attack on President Granger. It will be a final and desperate push, but they must be exposed at every turn.
The Guyanese people must resist PPP call for Election Day conflagration, if there is indeed such a call. Guyanese people of all races, ethnicity, religion, and age must reject the PPP divisive campaign. This I know, Mondale Smith Knows.