Well, the “die has been cast” on Nomination Day – in the arena that’s politics in Guyana. The phrase goes all the way back to Julius Caesar making his famous decision to go against the Roman Senate and cross the Rubicon River into Italy. It was a declaration of war, and there was no turning back – just like when you’re playing dice!! Now, as your Eyewitness thinks about it, he can see that to quite a few folks, getting into politics in Guyana is the same as “trying a t’ing” – to get noticed? How else do you explain twenty-two parties submitting symbols to signify they’re gonna be running in our Sept 1 elections – and FIFTEEN OF THEM WERE NOWHERE TO BE SEEN ON NOMINATION DAY??!!
And it’s not as if they didn’t know what it takes to get into the game!! Even if they were living under rocks, they were informed by GECOM as to the number of backers they had to secure – with signatures and all!! This means the leaders of those fifteen entities just didn’t have the wherewithal to secure the minimum of a few hundred signatures in at least six regions!! And for what it’s worth, three of the seven who qualified went this latter route – so really, we have four full and three half-parties in the race!! The Walton-Desir’s and Simona Broomes’ outfits – plus one that your Eyewitness can’t be bothered to look up – were the halflings!!
No one was surprised that the PPP and PNC/APNU qualified – but most didn’t think the AFC woulda been as challenged as they clearly were!! It’s clear that the strategy of the present leadership was quite misguided. Surprisingly so since – with Ramjaat and Naga Man out – they’re from that middle-class Coloured elite who’re trained from birth to assume leadership!! Why would they spend so much time negotiating a coalition with the PNC when the latter had already told them they were small potatoes? Didn’t it make sense for them to spend that time building their base – and would’ve become more attractive to – and respected by – the PNC??
The new (sanctioned!!) candidate on the block clearly didn’t have the challenge the AFC faced – of finance. Having syphoned off US$50 million – equivalent to GY$10.75 BILLIONS!! – from 2 tonnes of gold smuggled out, he clearly has even more tonnes of cash in his kitty to’ve bussed in – and fed!! – revellers from far and wide. Trust your Eyewitness, he hasn’t spent $10 billion on the houses he’s handed out to garner attention!!
Anyhow, the game has begun – and since we play hardball in Guyana – expect some bouncers. Those who can’t bear the heat should leave the pitch!!
…of the “Know Nothing Party”
We all know OUR politics is greatly influenced by the politics from up north. While it’s the Brits who gave us our political system, in our practice of that fine art we’ve been increasingly influenced by the Yanks!! Well, it seems that one new entrant seems to have to’ve gone all the way back to 19th-century American politics to revive one of their contributions to politics! This was the birth of the “Know Nothing Party”!!
Believe it or not – your Eyewitness ain’t pulling your legs!! At its height in the 1850s, the Know Nothing Party – originally called the American Party – was the third largest party after the nascent Republicans and Democrats!! They got their name from being required to answer all questions with – “We know nothing”!! Ironically Guyana’s new political entrant – followed the rule on Nomination Day – was sanctioned – not sanctified!! – by the Yanks. Is the fella trying to ingratiate himself with them??
Whatever it is, your Eyewitness knows nothing!!
…WI Cricket died
On July 14th, 2025, WI Cricket died when they were bowled out by Australia for twenty-seven runs!! WI Cricket lived a glorious life and once was the envy of the cricketing world. They were bled to death by departures.
