Dear Editor,
It is important to note that successive leaders of the PNC and PNCR have served as both party leader and president or opposition leader. This obtained whether there was a coalition of parties or not, as in the case of Burnham and the coalition with the United Force, and Robert Corbin in the case of the PNCR-1G. Desmond Hoyte served as party leader and president, and later opposition leader and party leader. So the notion that a PNCR leader will have too much on his plate should he serve as leader of APNU and party leader is just what it is, a notion.
The PNCR has always had strong and capable leaders who have demonstrated that they are able to perform these functions with the assistance of their team members. Further, to adopt the stance that the two positions would be burdensome for any one person would be to say that the leader of the PNCR should not strive to become president of Guyana, as this might be too much work. This is a position that every party member and supporter of the PNCR would reject forcefully.
The last time I checked Donald Ramotar was leader of the PPP/C, Civic being the group the PPP joined with, and he is also president of Guyana. I hear no one in the leadership of the PPP asking for Donald Ramotar to relinquish one of these positions, but yet I see key PPP/C operatives pontificating about what should happen at the PNCR upcoming congress I watch NCN and hear them ranting that David Granger must not be leader of the PNCR because he is already Opposition Leader. Let me state here that the intelligent people of the PNCR are capable of crafting their own destiny.
I am aware that the PPP/C is like a wounded lion hoping to fashion a political conversation to push their propaganda, in order to divert the focus of the people from the national conversation. The conversation hinges on bad governance and the corruption that pervades state entities. Their hope is to distract and fuel division and infighting among our ranks, particularly during this period. For them the conversation on NICIL must be lost; they hope the travesty of the PPP/C PAC vote to have the Minister of Finance‘s wife audit the state assets her husband manages will disappear; they plan to have the outrageous Linden electricity hike become a non-issue; they have forgotten that Ralph Ramkarran abandoned the PPP; they hide the fact that budget cuts were necessary; and they want the fact that NCN is a hot spot for corruption to escape the minds of the people. These are the things they hope to get lost in the national conversation.
I therefore, wish to remind every PNCR member and supporter to stay focused and not be distracted; let us not help the PPP/C fuel their agenda. Let us ask ourselves if the real issue is not one of the PPP/C being fearful of David Granger becoming leader of the PNCR. Are they uneasy because of his tested and proven ability to lead, or was the initiation of the budget cuts a nightmare which reminds them of his depth, intellect and skills? Are they afraid of his wit and calm spirit? What is causing the PPP/C to be so concerned about David Granger’s election to the office of party leader of the PNCR? What is causing Joe Hamilton, former PNC, then GGG, now PPP member and MP so much concern that he can go on national television (NCN) to declare that David Granger must not be leader of the PNCR? Mr Hamilton must be reminded that his political survival is at the behest of the PPP and therefore he must concentrate his energies on helping to democratize his party; the PNCR members can take care of their own affairs. His, must be a voice of reason within the PPP, not the PNCR, we are a mature and highly democratic organization, and not a communist entity which practises democratic centralism. Mr Hamilton might be of greater use to the PPP if he utilized his talent and skills to orchestrate the return of party stalwart and former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran to the PPP. He must also take some time to denounce the racist Chronicle editorial, which demonizes young blacks in this country. The PNCR can take care of its own business; we need no help from the PPP and its new-found friends.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor
