…candidates
Faced with an exodus of high ranking members of his party to the PPP on practically the eve of elections, PNC leader and LOO – Leader of the Opposition – Aubrey Norton’s been trying to put up a brave face. Not to worry, he says, “there will be no negative impact on the party…I don’t believe any of them can pull three votes.” Well, even if they can’t pull “three votes” – which is debatable – at a minimum, Norton should be concerned that the exodus signals to the electorate if he’s unable to inspire confidence in those who know him up close and personal, how’s he gonna inspire confidence in the said electorate to put their Xs next to the Palm Tree come September??
Or – going back to the initial “Exodus” with the Israelites fleeing the tyrannical Pharaoh – that he’s a domineering leader who leads with a stick – a rod? – rather than a carrot!! This, of course, has been the scuttlebutt on Norton that’s been making the rounds for years – it’s either his way or the highway!! But Norton has sought to go on the offensive by asserting he’s gonna be filling whatever gaps that were left with “tested and proven PNC persons” as candidates! “Tested and proven”? Sounds like a redo of the “fit and proper” criteria invoked by that Sanctimonious Gangster David Granger!! So we’ll just have to see who these new persons are.
After he snagged the PNC leadership during a party election fraught with “fixing” accusations, his two strongest challengers dropped out in disgust – he picked (and don’t let no subsequent internal elections fool you!) a bunch of real nonentities that haven’t exactly set the house on fire!! And show no signs of doing so in the near future!! Can Norton say how many votes Shurwayne Holder – his Chairperson – or Anil Sugrim – a Central ExCo member – will bring in??
But “PNC persons” has been a code word for signalling “Afro Guyanese”. So has Norton given up on expanding the PNC base?? Does he think he can be a contender – much less a winner – if, for instance he doesn’t get Amerindian votes to go along with the usual African and Mixed Guyanese votes?? And what about Indo-Guyanese?? One of the few from that latter group remaining in the PNC – the former GT Mayor and current Pandit – warned: “No election in Guyana has ever been won by appealing to a single ethnic group. Those who believe they can build political castles on such narrow foundations are deluded”!!
Strong words, eh?? It might just cost the goodly ex-mayor any position at Norton’s side!! Which is sad seeing it’s precisely such a “tested and proven PNC person” who might help his (doomed?) candidacy!!
…spunk
Back in the day, it was said that PM Indira Gandhi of Indian had more balls than any of her Congress colleagues – and proved it by giving Nixon the finger, which earned his wrath!! Well, it looks like over in T&T they’ve just gotten another (ballsy) Indira on their hands with PM Kamla!! Reacting to Venezuelan officials claiming that a paramilitary group had entered their country from TT and they would go after such groups wherever that are, Kamla replied:
“Today I want to make it very clear to the Venezuelan government and officials that they can do whatever they want on Venezuelan territory, but they cannot come here. T&T territory is off limits to them. I will … seek advice on protections for our Coast Guard to use deadly force on any unidentified vessel entering T&T waters from Venezuela.” Who told her to say THAT!! Mad Maduro immediately responded, “The PM’s virulent and high-handed attitude raises serious suspicions of complicity.”!!
Let Mad Maduro’s (usual bullying) games begin!!
…partners
Rebuffed by the PNC, Dead Meat AFC’s running out of options to cling to some party’s coattails for the elections!! To the option “to joinder or not to joinder” they’re scared they’ll draw the shortest straw and lose everything!!
