AG criticises opposition leadership, calls for ostracism over divisive rhetoric

The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, has said the type of leadership demonstrated by certain members of the opposition must be ostracised. He was referring to the recent contentious remarks made by leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), David Hinds, and leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Aubrey Norton.

During one of his programmes of “Politics 101”, Hinds hurled a series of insults at certain Afro-Guyanese persons, calling them “lick bottoms,” “house slaves,” and “sell outs”, among other names in comments that have been viewed as a direct attack on the dignity of Afro-Guyanese persons who have been exercising their democratic right to support a political party of their choice. And Norton has refused to condemn those remarks.
According to Nandlall, Hinds’s comments do not come as a surprise. “What you heard David Hinds say…is what is in his mind, is what his brain is programmed to say; and the fact that he has not expressed any remorse or regret over it confirms my conclusion (that he is racist),” Nandlall has said.
In condemning the remarks nonetheless, the Attorney General has noted that Hinds would not change his attitude. “If they are prepared to say that for the world to hear, do you imagine what they say privately?” he asked.
Nandlall has also spoken about Norton’s remarks: that he is satisfied with the advice he gave to the squatters of Cane View/Mocha, East Bank Demerara, who lost their court challenge against the Government for removing them from state lands they were illegally occupying.
The PNC leader had said, “As far as we are concerned, we gave good advice to them.”
And when he was asked what advice he would give to the squatters now that they have lost the case against Government and are homeless as a result, Norton said he would encourage them to insist that they get back the lands from which they were removed.
“Is this man sane?” Nandlall questioned. “He gave good advice to the people? He’s home in Plaisance by his house. He has a driver and a Prado land cruiser that the Government is paying for him… These people whom he advised are now homeless, and he’s proud…?” he added.
Further, Nandlall questioned why are people “still supporting this kind of leadership?”
“You have to cast your ballot later this year. If that is what you want to lead you; if that is the type of political leadership you want; then I guess you will get what you deserve,” he said. “If you think David Hinds has said the right thing, then that’s the type of leader you need,” the attorney general has added.