Opposition commended for support against Venezuela

Dear Editor,
The Opposition is commended for unanimously supporting the Government on the border issue in which Venezuela is (wrongfully) claiming some two-thirds of Guyana’s territory and planning a referendum to ratchet up the claim. Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, shadow Minister Amanza Walton-Desir, and shadow Attorney General Roysdale Forde, among others, gave excellent speeches backing the national position on the territorial integrity of Guyana.
Norton’s long speech stood out in Parliament, perhaps it was the longest during the rare show of unity by the Government and Opposition. It was a Diwali gift – a festival of change, peace, and good conquering evil. The public likes the show of unity in Venezuela and hopes it can be transplanted on other (socio-economic) issues impacting on the population like the high cost of living, crime, and health, among others.
All of the presentations were very good and Norton’s stood out as it was decades, if at any time, in which an Opposition Leader supports the Government on an issue. Norton has not had a very good or happy run of leadership since he won the position 23 months ago. Commentators and newspaper editorials assailed his leadership describing it as unimpressive, unimaginative, inept, and dull. His personality is described as dour. He has lost support on the ground. And in terms of achievements during his tenure, he has virtually none, not been able to meet with the President one-on-one to discuss varied matters impacting the nation. Norton has so far failed to meet the high hopes his supporters had when he defeated Joe Harmon for leadership in December 2021. He’s just never sparked excitement or shown much sign of political traction like that of those who are aspiring for his job.
Norton has been drifting downward in the polls (likeability or favourability, approval ratings, re-election as leader, and head-to-head contest against Irfaan Ali (for the presidency); even many traditional PNC supporters preferred Ali over him. A tracking poll now being conducted (that started over a week ago) also finds him slipping in likeability although his speech in Parliament on the Venezuela matter was well-received among supporters of both major political parties. He received praise from both sides. He gave a very good history of the border dispute and how it was settled in Guyana’s favour, and he saluted both towering independence freedom fighters (Jagan and Burnham’s) handling of the issue. No doubt it was his finest hour (performance) in Parliament so far.
It was a focused speech on the border issue with a rare display of unity by the Opposition and the Government. There was no “cuss out” and no “picong” from opposing figures mashing up PNC/AFC MPs as in the “budget debates”. Also, Norton did not show constancy of a lack of a clear message as in previous contributions in Parliament and at various media encounters. He obviously showed that he has IR and foreign affairs background. He was very articulate.
The speech was direct and clear but at the same time not transformative to re-capture those who have abandoned him since he won the leadership in December 2021. It wasn’t a game-changer speech that he badly needed to forestall challenges to his leadership. He would still have to campaign hard to forestall challenges to his position whenever internal elections are held and constitutionally due by year-end. In a one-to-one contest against either Forde or Amanza, he will lose based on findings of current and earlier opinion surveys. In a race against multiple candidates, he may survive but he won’t be able to defeat Irfaan Ali or any other PPP presidential candidate like Ashni Singh or Anil Nandlall or Vickram Bharrat or some another. In fact, under Norton’s leadership, PNC is projected to lose four seats.
And his competitors for leadership of PNC, Forde, and Amanza, were also very impressive and are gaining over him. They showed themselves to be accomplished debaters in the field and foreign affairs in general. Their Venezuela remarks are catalysts to lift them in any election as a presidential candidate. While Norton’s speech was very long, their remarks were shorter, more direct, to the point, and excellent. Like Norton, they also voiced strong backing of Government on the border that all voters seem to crave.
Their remarks were also a strategic success that was cheered by PPPites and middle-of-the-road voters seeking political change. So, Norton didn’t score any advantage points over others planning to challenge him for the position. And Forde still holds an enormous lead in the poll in a one-to-one contest against Norton for leadership. The only danger for Forde is if there are multiple candidates that could fundamentally alter the race by splitting the votes. Volda Lawrence and Carl Greenidge’s names were mentioned but people feel their time has long gone and the mantle should be passed on to the younger generation.
On national unity, the public would like to see the Opposition and Government more on the same page on other issues.

Yours truly,
Dr Vishnu Bisram