It’s standard custom and practice on the campaign trail for all kinda accusations to be hurled at your opponents. Usually accompanied with the usual one-upmanship of pulling down each other’s flags and paraphernalia. Usually it’s dismisses as “boys will be boys” gamesmanship! In fact, if you ain’t getting “the treatment” you worry you’re not seen as a player!! And conversely, the more slings and arrows that comes your way, it means you’re seen that much as a threat!!
So what’s it been like this year in the homestretch to Elections 2025?? It ain’t as hot as in the past!! The PPP’s biggest brick to throw at their archrival PNC continues to be the latter’s compulsion to rig elections – which they’ve been feeding since 1968!! Their 2020 effort was a doozy and with the known suspects presently on trial – interestingly delayed for this time through objections by PNC lawyers’ objections!! – the PPP doesn’t have to do much reminding!!
Incumbent governments – such as the PPP is this go-around – are always fair game of being accused of “political victimization” – a common charge in the third world with our severely divided societies and electorates. The PNC had introduced victimization with gusto in their first (rigged!) 28 years at the helm: if you didn’t have a PNC party card, you were out in the cold when jobs were awarded – or retained!! When they returned to power in 2015, Health Min and PNC Chair Volda Lawrence reminded the nation that the practice was alive and kicking! She boasted, “The only friends I got is PNC so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC”!!
Claimed discrimination against government workers is another brickbat – like the PNC firing some 2000 Amerindian Community Service Officers and 7000 primarily Indian Guyanese in the sugar Industry!! Minister of State Harmon defended APNU/AFC firing or sending public servants home, but said they weren’t “thousands” as claimed by the PPP!! THEY, however, perennially accuse the PPP of firing African Guyanese Public Servants and Permanent Secretaries!! Then there was the “do fuh do na obeah” hauling of finance ministers to the Courts!!
This go-around, a new element was added when the AFC disappeared into thin air without and was replaced by ONE of the new entrants named (hopefully!?!) WIN. They’ve garnered copious comments interpreted by some as “political victimization”. But frankly, your Eyewitness don’t think so!! Here’s a fella who was SANCTIONED by the US OFAC for gold smuggling – evidently involving sanctioned Venezuelan gold and drug smuggling routes – and the govt merely acting prudently to protect the NATIONAL interest!! This is POLITICAL VICTIMIZATON??!
And not even mentioning evading $10Billion taxes on gold smuggling and $120Million on a Lamborgini!! !
…those “othered”
In identity politics – where we vote in some ways because of how we see ourselves – we’re told that in all societies, those with power – economic, political or social – make up the rules of the game – any game – to make sure they’re on top. And that extends even in he way we identify ourselves and each other. THEY define themselves as “normal” and others who differ in any way are judged by them to be in that way – lesser!! The process is called “othering”!!
So the white man “othered” us back in the day in every which way and – accepting their judgement – we continued othering each other as to how close or far we were from them in looks and behaviour. One of their standards had to do with sex, gender and sexual relations – and so all of us had to conform to their “Victorian” norms. Thankfully, we’ve challenged their notions.
Here, SASOD just sensitized the nation at their Elections Town Hall last Tuesday about their LGBTQIA+ Guyanese Manifesto 2025!! One Guyana!!
…tha grand coalition
Your Eyewitness noticed calls for a “grand coalition” of all parties have disappeared. The refusal of the Opposition Leader to agree on the top Judicial appointments signals the total gridlock that would’ve followed!!
