Dear Editor,
Yes! Guyana needs a third political party. As I speak about the need for a third party in Guyana let me first say that the AFC is responsible for the seeming quagmire that Guyana has found itself in.
Like the WPA back in the 70s and 80s, the AFC was making significant traction and headway on the political landscape of Guyana. The healthy mix of its founder members was a breath of fresh air for Guyana. Their fearless stance on national issues was supported by many patriotic Guyanese who were rooting for them. They also presented a healthy mix of the predominant ethnic races of Guyana and that too spoke volumes.
I was told that the WPA had that same effect when they were in their heyday.
Young intellectuals and folks from the diaspora were moving to align themselves with the AFC and a certain excitement was brewing in Guyana.
Then something happened. Next we heard was that the AFC was joining forces with the APNU. The APNU is dominated by the PNC stalwarts. Many folks who were encouraged by the formation and potential of the AFC, were not lovers of the PNC; some even hated the PNC.
They disliked what Burnham had done to the country, so they shunned his PNC party. Therefore, the February 14 Cummingsburg marriage of APNU/AFC saw a decisive dent in the support of the AFC.
However, all was not lost; some held their noses and voted for the AFC in the coalition. As a result, the coalition was able to pull off a nail-biting, very marginal, win.
What has happened since the coalition formed the Government is that the AFC and its bold, objective and “fresh-faced” policies have all but disappeared.
Many of the behaviours for which the government – AFC is a part of the government – is being accused of as wrong doings, would not have stood the mustard test were the leaders of the AFC not married to the APNU.
The bushy-tailed and bright-eyed founders of the AFC would not have been caught dead anywhere near some of the scandals and missteps of the current administration. Indeed, I could hear the ‘old’ Khemraj, the ‘old’ Nigel and the ‘old’ Moses, challenging any administration to explain and/or reject some of the very issues that are now receiving the AFC’s tacit support.
Editor, I have been a journalist and a political consultant for many years. I worked in Barbados, Trinidad, the USA and here in Guyana. I even served a stint working for President Desmond Hoyte, during the 1992 election campaign. I am also marriage counsellor.
So if you were to ask me, I would say, that I think the AFC jumped the gun. They married the APNU too soon. Marrying the APNU has so far not served the AFC’s best purposes, except for those in the government and a few other favoured ones. But the general supporters of the AFC feel betrayed. If the leaders of the AFC doubt me, they could do an audit of their supporters’ morale.
I think the AFC has been weakened. Their credibility continues to take a hit.
Instead of gaining ground, they have lost ground.
If the AFC had waited another election cycle, and if they had continued with their focus on the working-class, on patriotism, and on transparency, they would have gained significant political collateral to better negotiate the conditions of any accord: either with the PPP or the APNU. But now their hands are tied.
Their supporters across the country are in disarray. Additionally, there seems to be some internal disunity. And the AFC is stock because they are now legally married and any divorce will mostly hurt them.
I understand that the coalition-government is receiving high marks on their functionality. The international community seems to admire how things are going. The consensus is that the marriage is holding strong.
They say time will tell.
We are hearing that while the better life is not yet being realised by the average Guyanese, it is in the making; better days are coming.
Well, we are all watching and waiting and hoping and praying. Until then, I am registering my opinion that based on how things are shaping up, Guyana needs a third party and here is why I am saying this. If things continue the way they are going, the Coalition will be a one-term government.
If this coalition loses, the AFC will be further decimated. And depending on who wins the next election, Guyana could be catapulted back to an age of nepotism.
And if that happens, I will hold the AFC singularly responsible.
Sincerely,
Pastor Wendell Jeffrey
