Quite why the political parties bother to go the trouble and cost of compiling, printing and distributing bound documents which they call manifestos is a mystery. Guyanese have long reached a point of political maturity that allows them to recognize that the real purpose behind manifestos is to mug the electorate. Who among us do not understand that these manifestos are not the silky side of the elections campaigning, the real deal being what happens at the hustings – the urgings that to vote for any other party would be an unmitigated disaster for the country.
The other day APNU went to the trouble to say that the late appearance of its manifesto was unlike to hurt its campaign. Of course it wouldn’t hurt the campaign; more likely than not it wouldn’t help it either. Who in their right mind – at this eleventh hour – is likely to settle down over a beer or a cup of tea, read APNU’s promises then decide where to cast their ballot? It isn’t as if the APNU manifesto or any other manifesto, for that matter is worthy of the Guyana Prize for Literature. Indeed, people are so thoroughly disinterested in what often turns out to be overhauled public speeches and conference papers that they may as well be titled Conversations With Myself, the title of Nelson Mandela’s latest book.
They should print a strictly limited number of copies for libraries and archives and for the bookshelves of those people who just love to collect printed material. Except of course they want their elections promises to join the others on the stalls of the various fish vendors. We are told that the paper comes in handy for wrapping meat and fish and that the vendors look forward to them the most.
