Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 17, 2011 Letters
Dear Editor,
The AFC is not the PNC/APNU. It is not the PPP. It is the AFC. It is its own party. As much as many APNU supporters are drunk with the belief that the AFC is or should be tied, married, wedded and bound to APNU, the truth cannot be further away.
Similarly, as much as many delirious PPP supporters who see the presence of Ramjattan, Nagamootoo and other former PPP stalwarts as an obligation resting on the AFC to side with the PPP, this has no weight and bearing.
The AFC is in Parliament to be an independent party. It was elected by 35,000 voters to be just that; an independent party. It has rejected the ethnic parties (PPP and PNC/APNU) and its mandate is a rejection of ethnic parties and ethnic politics.
The AFC has no choice but to play its role as an independent party. While the AFC has to cooperate with the PPP and PNC/APNU to move Parliament along, that cooperation has to be on its terms and most importantly, in a manner that the AFC sees as bringing the greatest benefit to the country.
The AFC must oppose and cooperate with both APNU and the PPP where necessary. While the AFC has to cooperate more with APNU to generate some critical changes, this does not mean the AFC cannot and should not oppose APNU and support the PPP where the PPP’s proposal brings greater benefit to the country than that of APNU.
The AFC is nobody’s servant in Parliament. It must refuse to vote to kill a bill that it feels does not benefit the country but must be able to explain to the public why, as the minority party in Parliament, it took the route it took to squash that piece of legislation.
There are moments where the AFC must stand strongly independent and when it cannot support either party. There will be times when the PPP and APNU will adopt a joint approach on issues purely to favour their own constituencies while the whole country suffers.
The AFC could play a powerful role of dissenter at those times. Similarly, occasions will be presented where the AFC must play both sides against each other.
Corruption probes into government and governance that deal with national and local government could include PPP and APNU/PNC members. The AFC has to skillfully play each party to ensure the people get the results they want from these probes. The Guyanese people fully understand the role the AFC has to play. I believe the AFC must explain its decisions to the people, since its king-making votes can swing this country in one direction or another. If the AFC plays its cards right and educates the public on its role, it can change perceptions about power and fashion a sea change in the voters’ mind about minority government, non-majoritarian power and the potential for shared political power.
The AFC has a critical role to play in enlightening the public about how minority balance-of-power parties should operate, and can successfully operate in Guyana’s future to enrich our democracy. Its very future survival depends on it.
M. Maxwell
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
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