…the Budget Debate
Well, what do our parliamentarians do after budget debates?? Is it like after making love: they throw back and have a smoke?? Don’t scoff now, that ain’t too farfetched!! Did you see the two sides having a go at each other?? They were either making love or making war…so much sweat was expended!! Sure, some tempers got frayed, but that’s to be expected when so much is at stake, innit?? And trust your Eyewitness, it wasn’t just because the Opposition wanted to show how much they cared for the well-being of us, the Guyanese people. No Siree Bob!! This was an opportunity for all the wannabe PNC leaders to show why they should replace Aubrey, going forward!!
Poor Aubrey…he just can’t win, can he?? Well, he did win the leadership back in Dec 2020, didn’t he?? He’d been around for donkey years, but, for some reason, wasn’t even the bridesmaid – just the water boy. When he was made PNC Chair back in the day, Desmond Hoyte summarily banished him from the position. When questioned as to why, Hoyte said Norton was merely his “creature”. Not as in “The Creature from the Black Lagoon”, as many persons snickered, but he was the Leader’s appointee. But the “creature” label unfortunately stuck! Up to then, some had figured he woulda been groomed into Desmond Hoyte’s Hamilton Green – Burnham’s go-to thug du jour!!
Well, like Freddy Krueger, Norton kept coming back…and back. You remember him taking on Volda’s Lawrence for the Chairmanship of the Georgetown PNC branch in 2009 and being soundly whupped? He later showed up at the 2011 PNC Congress to run against David Granger for the Leadership role. That’s chutzpah! The man really saw himself as leadership material! So that’s why your Eyewitness is taken aback that he’s the invisible man now, when he finally became the leader and the PNC needs some direction.
But that’s the problem right there. In 2020, most PNC faithful felt Granger should’ve brazened it out and refused to concede the Mingo-rigged election. He wasn’t “tough enough”, and that’s where Aubrey came in. Just because he LOOKED rough and ready, everyone thought he was ready to rumble with the PPP in the streets!! They didn’t appreciate that Burnham used to get away with his rigging cause Cheddi was unacceptable to the greater powers that be!!
It wasn’t that Granger was chicken; he was realistic – and so, to everyone’s surprise, was Aubrey!! Refusing to shake Pressie’s hand was as truculent as he was gonna go!! So, now some want him to go!!
So, did any of the wannabees show they’re ready to do better than Aubrey?? Sadly, no!! And this is a tragedy, cause we sorely need some real Opposition!!
…the honour
Say what you want about our young Pressie, he sure knows how to smooze with other world leaders, doesn’t he?? None of that stiff-upper-lip British tradition for him!! And it’s not just with other Caribbean leaders, like Mia Mottley or Ralph Gonsalves, but with King Charles. Certainly NOT David Granger’s prostration when meeting Queen Elizabeth!! Anyhow, here was Pressie in Ghana, where it was like a home away from home kinda greeting, with his hands on the shoulder of his host!!
But Pressie broached a topic that isn’t usually flaunted over here – his religion. To demonstrate the Catholicity (!!) of our land of six peoples, he pointed out that as a member of the small Muslim Minority, he was yet elected president!! Ghana has almost 20% Muslims, but none of its presidents was from that group. While the first Muslims in Guyana were from Africa – from the Fula or Fulani tribe, which gave the local appellation “Fulaman” to our Muslims, not many of them were from Ghana.
…the Joiner
Schuman’s leaving politics to found a new 100% Guyanese Airline. He should make it the first 100% INDIGENOUS Airline – with all the stewards and stewardesses decked out in grass skirts – or less!! Let it ALL hang out!!
