Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 15, 2011 Letters
Dear Editor,
Now that the PNC is teamed up with the WPA and other smaller parties (JOPP) will it concede half of all parliamentary seats and Cabinet appointments if they win the 2011 elections?
No doubt there is much concern within the PNC of its new found political friends. Press reports highlighting the widespread Sophia dissatisfaction with the PNC’s coalition partners are no surprise.
In fact, the SN in a web page analysis on Tuesday June 7, titled ‘Second thoughts about the candidates’ brought the issue into the public domain. Grumbling within the PNC “it appears, is not making life easier for the Brigadier (in) that, reportedly on his insistence, the PNCR has signed on to a coalition with three smaller parties whom, one would assume, now have a say in how the PNC campaign will be handled.
“The word is that there are lots of pouting and grumbling at Sophia by some of the PNCR purists who say that Granger has brought ‘baggage’ on board and that the three smaller members of the coalition are in fact getting something for nothing.”
It is an open secret that the WPA is only a paper tiger with no membership, money or party machinery and less is known of the others in the Joint Opposition Political Parties (JOPP) coalition.
Will the PNC/R concede to the demands of the WPA to get half of the parliamentary seats and Cabinet Ministries, demands that the WPA made of the PPP/C before the 1992 elections?
To its credit the PPP last minute concession of the Prime Ministership to the WPA presidential candidate Dr Clive Thomas was rejected by the WPA. Dr Thomas subsequently became a prominent activist in the post 1992 African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA).
Dr Roopnaraine who was bypassed as the successor to Dr Walter Rodney as WPA leader before the 1992 elections was subsequently affixed the head of the WPA skeleton when things fell apart.
Nevertheless Dr Rupert Roopnaraine yet aspires to be the JOPP Presidential candidate hoping to convince Guyanese and the PNC that he will be the shining star which attracts Indian votes to the dominant PNC-JOPP coalition. Would the PNC go along with this strategy? There is no doubt the PNC needs to fix its image to attract crossover disenchanted Indians
A PNC compromise would be a landmark lesson in responsiveness to demands for “equality” from a top heavy Indian WPA.
With the PNC under criticisms for rigging the 1973 elections, especially Mr Granger’s controversial role, he may yet seek to cleanse his party’s image by accommodating the top heavy Indian-led WPA demands for half the Cabinet ministries.
After all he is the democratically-elected Presidential candidate mandated to lead the PNC to victory.
Now that Mr Peter Ramsaroop’s (GPP) has rejoined the JOPP coalition, he at least brings much financial wealth which none of the smaller parties possess.
At least Mr Ramsaroop who had been a PNC Reform partner/supporter has had a history of working with the PNC. No less disdainful of his Indianness he presents a similar Indian face for the PNC to clean that party’s image as he has not made any demands for Cabinet ministries or parliamentary seats.
Who will be the PNC’s new UF coalition partner for 2011?
Sultan Mohamed
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
Apr 18, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been named Wisden’s leading Twenty20 Cricketer for 2023, as she topped all and sundry, including her male counterparts. Alan Gardner looks...Kaieteur News – Compliments of the Ministry of Education, our secondary school children are being treated to a stage... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]