BOASTFUL TALK, ELUSIVE PLANS

Not surprisingly, as campaigning for the May 11 general elections gets into stride amid all sorts of manoeuverings and double-speak, it is becoming more evident that the leaders of the anti-PPP/C elections coalition, headed by the PNC’s leader, Mr David Granger, are coming under more critical scrutiny by some commentators.
Among them are a few well known Guyanese once associated with either the PPP or PPP-led administrations and who, while offering some independent analyses, also make criticisms in the media against the governing party.
For example, in yesterday’s edition of the ‘Guyana Times’, Dr Henry Jeffrey, a former Cabinet minister of the PPP/C government, and Mr Ramon Gaskin, well known political activist and social commentator offered their respective views on the unfolding politicking of the PNC-dominated APNU/AFC alliance for the coming elections.
Commenting on the formal launch of their elections campaign last Wednesday at the Guyana Pegasus, Dr Jeffrey described the event as “all fluff and no substance” in what the lead speakers had to offer. According to Dr Jeffrey, they (the APNU/AFC leadership) “are not saying anything…They are basically opening the door for the PPP/C….”
For his part, Mr Gaskin in his assessment of the official election launch event at the Pegasus, said that the leadership of the coalition seem more interested in allocation of “positions” than addressing basic issues pertaining to governance policies and programmes.
Truth is that neither APNU (which is really the PNC in a different dominant role) nor what remains of the AFC – has seriously come to terms with the challenges facing Guyana at this time of global economic and political crises. Therefore, they continue to froth at the mouth with boastful claims and slanderous statements against the PPP/C-led government while continuing to treat Guyanese with contempt by indulging in wild, emotional talk as a substitute for policies and programmes.
In this respect, both their Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates appear to have fallen prey to the sort of intellectual emptiness and political bitterness of the PNC’s frustrated wannabe leader, Carl Greenidge. He continues to reveal difficulties in coming to terms with the possibility of being counted among those “comrades” contributing to the leadership challenges facing Mr Granger.
For now, let’s wait and see what specific policies and development programmes the Granger-Nagamootoo-led elections alliance reveal in the coming weeks. Bad-mouthing and political slander may be easy for those more obsessed with positions than what can really foster national unity for national development.
Enough for now.