Don’t insult the intelligence of Guyanese, Mr. Forde

Dear Editor,
Even for those who do not support the current Government, it would seem that PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, on October 5, 2023, was correct to question “what else” would the PNC/APNU/AFC lie about?
In less than 24 hours, Mr. Roysdale Forde, on October 6, 2023, released a statement alleging that Mr. Jagdeo claimed that the US Congresspeople never met with the PNC/APNU/AFC. As an attorney, Mr. Forde’s ability to play with words is a given, but his attack on Mr. Jagdeo failed, and what was left exposed was his belief that Guyanese are gullible.
The PNC/APNU/AFC had two events in the US in September 2023 – a Diaspora Conference and a meeting with US officials. For those who followed the press conference on October 5, 2023, at no point did Mr. Jagdeo say the second event did not take place. Mr. Jagdeo did, however, say that the “much vaunted” attendance of US Congresspeople at the Diaspora Conference did not take place. Everyone who watched the livestream by Sherod Duncan knows this. In fact, Rickford Burke, on day one of the conference, apologized for the absence of the US Congresspeople, who included Mr. Hakeen Jefferies.
Finally, Mr. Forde opened his October 6, 2023 statement by saying: “If you lie about that, what else would you lie about?” A most pertinent question posed by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during his October 5, 2023 Press Conference.
Guyanese are no fools, Mr. Roysdale Forde. For those who tuned into the press conference, we heard Mr. Jagdeo talking about the PNC/APNU/AFC claims about the 2020 Elections. It was in that context that he said:
“Imagine APNU going to Washington to say the PPP tried to steal, or stole, the 2020 Elections. How divorced, it’s not how divorced they are from reality, but how shameless could you be? And how could you do that with a clear conscience, when everything points to the contrary, including the State Department that was part of the charge – the United States’ State Department and the staff there they don’t change with Administration. Except for the political leadership, they have stability in government. They know of the attempts to steal the election, because they helped to fight it off, the US Government. Therefore, people have to think, if you lie about that, what else wouldn’t you lie about. What else would you not lie about.”
Mr. Forde would be well advised to not follow the path of his leader Aubrey Norton, and try to distinguish himself as a politician who, unlike his peers, does not insult the intelligence of the Guyanese people.

Yours truly,
Anson Paul