Dear Editor,
When the AFC entered Guyana’s politics it was seen as a breadth of fresh air. The preamble to its constitution is full of all the “good stuff” one would expect of any political party that declares itself on the side equality, justice, and the rule of law. Point three of the preamble of their constitution reads as follows – “The AFC recognises that the development of a just society is founded on the supremacy of the rule of law.” Wonderful indeed. Nothing less is expected. Point four is even more elaborate. It states, “In accordance with these democratic values the AFC subscribes to the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of persons under the rule of law and commits itself to the protection of these essential values and to advocating for their constant adoption to the changing needs of modern Guyanese society.” Bravo!
These are lofty ideals and had the AFC lived up to what it promised, Guyana would have been much further along the path of socio-economic development and cultural advancement. History can be a cruel though, and the record of the AFC is ample proof that we trust but also verify. Rather than advancing democracy, the rule of law, and good governance, the AFC became the poster child of betrayal. Three historic betrayals need amplification.
The AFC had promised that it would never join-up with the authoritarian PNC. Yet, it did the exact opposite when the opportunity arose. Its behavior in parliament during President Ramotar’s tenure can only be described as unconscionable. Four specific things come to mind. The AFC voted against the money laundering bill, something that placed enormous pressure on Guyana from the international community. Financial institutions were pushed into unimaginable difficulties, and citizens ultimately paid a heavy price. They also sided with the PNC to kill the Amalia Falls project, and only acceded at the very last minute because an AFC big one was a possible beneficiary. Then they sided with the PNC against sugar workers, something that would be repeated when they took full control of the government under the Granger presidency. And not least, the AFC betrayed the Amerindian communities of Guyana by voting down the line items in the capital budget aimed at infrastructure and development projects in those communities.
In 2015, the AFC betrayed not only the Guyanese people, but its own supporters by going into an alliance with the PNC-led APNU.
The second great betrayal concerns the oil contract signed in 2016. It was an AFC man, Raphael Trotman, who spearheaded the attack. Now, even though we accept a contract is a contract, the same AFC is calling for a renegotiated instrument. They have sided with Glen Hall and a motley crew of characters, whose daily calls for a renegotiated contract, have become part of the political landscape. Some of their supporters, such as Mike Persaud, spend all their time jabbing in the dark corners of obscurity and irrelevance. The oil contract is their only means of existential maintenance.
The final betrayal was mammoth by any standard, in any nation. The same AFC that had promised to live by the rule of law, joined the APNU in a brazen effort to disenfranchise the entire nation during five months of electoral mayhem. During these five long agonizing months in 2020, the AFC prostrated itself beneath the APNU, allowing itself to be caressed into ignominy. A leaked video showed that Mr. Ramjattan knew the APNU-AFC had lost, but he and the AFC persisted with their abusive lies, their daily distortions, their grand betrayal.
Guyana is a land of resilient people. Then president in waiting, Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali, and General Secretary of the PPP/C Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, asked supporters to protest if they want, but to do so within the ambit of the nation’s laws. How remarkable it is that in the face of shameless electoral banditry, Ali and Jagdeo, and the entire PPP leadership, could and did find the courage, the guts, and the decency, to abide by the rule of law. This is something the AFC had long abandoned.
The AFC ended up with more seats in parliament than it could have possibly won. I suppose loyalty, no matter how immoral, can still yield some benefits. The question is though – how could the AFC live with itself? It must be very difficult. But Guyanese are also a forgiving people. On this score, it is not too late for the AFC to offer a sincere apology for the great betrayals it has committed.
Sincerely,
Dr Randolph Persaud
