Dear Editor,
Reference is made to Mr Sase Singh’s letter captioned, ‘We need a government of national unity not led by the PPP or PNC but by a third group of leaders,’ (SN, Sept 18). In the context of his other writings, one may surmise that Mr Singh – a former PPP/C insider turned AFC operative who later resigned – is now advocating rejection of the PPP and APNU. Mr Singh apparently believes that his writings will convince Guyanese to abandon their parties and rush to the support of the AFC. I suggest that such thinking is seriously flawed, and the resulting utterances may hurt Mr Singh’s stated cause. He seems to have missed the fact that calling for national unity, while rejecting the representatives of the vast majority of Guyanese, is self-contradictory.
Editor, Mr Singh needs to stop dreaming and accept that the PNC and PPP are part of Guyana’s history and current political reality. The two major parties will not disappear because Mr Singh wishes it. The AFC is the smallest of the three parliamentary entities. Mr Singh has said that the APNU should make way for the AFC, yet he has presented no objective reason why the much larger APNU should play second fiddle to the smaller AFC.
Instead of presenting substance – the AFC agenda, ideology and philosophy – Mr Singh touts the AFC’s moral superiority. He says that both major parties have failed. However, he misses the point that parties are not abstract constructs; they are made up by, and of, people. He ignores the fact that most of the top brass in the AFC are former PPP or PNC members. According to Mr Singh’s ‘logic’ one is misled if one supports the PPP or APNU. But from the moment one begins to support the AFC, everything magically changes, and one becomes a saint. The absurdity of such sentiments is obvious.
Mr Singh, adopting the propaganda line of his former PPP colleagues, writes that the PNC and APNU, are identical. Of course, right-thinking Guyanese know that APNU is a nine body coalition, of which the PNCR is a major part, but not the only part. In the last general election, the prime ministerial candidate was not a PNCR member, but a WPA official. Given Mr Singh’s wholesale adoption of PPP propaganda, one wonders if his heart is still in Freedom House, as he takes temporary shelter under the AFC umbrella.
I wonder about Mr Singh’s loyalties as his utterances seem to have the potential to hurt the AFC, the party which he ostensibly supports. His writings also show a distinct pro-PPP, anti-PNC bias, which he attempts to disguise in his latest letter, by praising HD Hoyte, et al. Further, his writings may actually serve the PPP agenda.
Guyanese who want meaningful, positive change, are aware that reforms can begin only when the PPP is removed from office. The AFC in tabling a no-confidence motion, appears to have the same goal. Mr Singh, in attacking the PNC – which has been out of office for twenty-two years – appears to want to sow discord in the opposition camp. This will not help to remove the PPP. I am certain though, that the PPP would approve of Mr Singh’s writings.
Guyanese who want a better life must reject any attempt to divide the opposition. This old PPP tactic is well known and easy to recognise. Citizens must remain focused on beginning the long journey towards a better future. There will be many changes to be made along the way, but real reforms cannot begin until the current regime is peacefully removed.
Yours faithfully,
Mark DaCosta
