Opposition leader’s reaction to defections is nothing but a sour-grapes attitude
Dear Editor,
When questioned about several defections at his ‘press conference’ from the PNCR recently, all the Opposition Leader’s response was that the defectors, without exception, were non-performers, inferring that they did not work as expected (by him) for the development of the party. What a revelation! It couldn’t be that they had just started being non-performers, just before national and regional elections.
He claimed that not being the head of the list, he could not have recalled them from their positions. Why then did he not meet with the head of the list (former President Granger) and lobby for their recall?
The Leader of the Opposition’s reaction is nothing but a sour-grapes attitude—you can’t have them, so they are no good. These same defectors have moved on to the governing PPP/C and other endeavours, where they are welcomed and will surely debunk the propaganda that they are cognitively indolent (mentally lazy) or physically slothful by exhibiting their activism energetically.
Editor, what the Leader of the Opposition is doing to save face is distracting viewers and listeners (a red-herring tactic) from the fact that high-level members of his party are abandoning the party which is sinking and draining it of useful political capital. The PNCR is in panic mode with defections and lack of compromise within its ranks. From the time he was selected as leader by default (for lack of opposition from within), key party members became disgruntled and less enthusiastic about working with him. But like the king wearing invisible new clothes, he was oblivious of the obvious.
The three Members of Parliament (MPs) who abandoned the sunken AFC and joined the half-sunken PNCR are nothing but opportunists. They fully well knew that the AFC would not get enough seats at the upcoming elections to keep them in parliament. They think the PNCR would reward them by doing so. Little do they know that the PNCR will not secure sufficient seats in the next parliament to accommodate them and their wishful thinking, delusions of grandeur. Further, long-standing members of the PNCR will not take it too kindly for new crossover wannabes to supersede them in dividing the meagre spoils they will acquire.
So, after reading from a brief prepared script, without making eye contact with the reporters, at the press conference, all the Leader of the Opposition could say was that the defectors were not significant, tantamount to good riddance, in an effort to console himself and his diminishing loyal followers.
Editor, the bottom line is that the PNCR will continue for a long time as the official opposition, and the irrevocable dispensation will be a resounding victory for the PPP, something most Guyanese want, rather, need and deserve.
