Dear Editor,
I have no intention of convincing anyone of my support for the coalition. My public utterances, my involvement in this struggle, my activism and personal sacrifices will bear testimony. The coalition must understand that there are some people who will not compromise the truth because of political expediency. They must understand that there are some who will stand solidly behind and beside them in this struggle for change and never fail to identify where they are going wrong.
The coalition is wrong to take a decision that Nigel Hughes will not be allowed to speak at major rallies, as we move closer to national elections. The APNU must not be allowed influence such a decision in the partnership. Mr Hughes has been absent from the podium at Linden and Whim. This questionable development has caused many to speculate about his health and whether he is fit.
Nigel Hughes is one of the most eloquent and articulate persons in that marriage of seeming convenience. I can assure you that he is fit and well to effectively address the hundreds of thousands of coalition supporters and Guyanese in general.
This unadulterated nonsense that he will overshadow David Granger can be no valid consideration. The coalition needs all the help it can get at this crucial juncture. We cannot pander to PPP propoganda about Mr Hughes and ignore their fear of his Rodney-like image. The PPP must not influence the coalition and decide for us who is fit or unfit to face the electorate on the public platform. The PPP have attempted to smear Hughes in their desperation to silence him.
I watched in trepidation, a few days ago, as Mr Hughes was being interviewed by Chris Chipwanya about the removal of a videotape at a crime scene. This is playing right into the hands of the PPP. The timing of that interview speaks volumes. Hughes did not commit any crime.
This is where the nonsense is glaring. Bharrat Jagdeo is allowed to take centre stage in the PPP’’s national campaign with no regard to his credibility and track record. Mr Jagdeo lacks the skills of a good public speaker. Yet, the PPP courageously field him to their supporters and the nation as a whole. The strategy of the PPP is not only clear but also bold.
On the other hand, Nigel Hughes is cast aside, giving our supporters the impression that it may not be a good strategy at this time to give him the public prominence he deserves. Nigel Hughes is a dignified and disciplined leader. He will not make a public issue out of this situation. I can imagine his pain and disappointment. He has given to this struggle all he has got and more. He must not continue to be a victim of political expediency and the coalition’s tactic of raw opportunism.
Further, we are yet to see the coalition’s manifesto or understand what their strategy is; the strategy cannot just be the marriage of David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo. The electorate is not foolish. We cannot remain silent in the face of these contradictions while screaming in a frenzy that we have already won the elections. We cannot continue to whip up our supporters while disregarding the history of elections in Guyana.
The fact remains that the majority of PPP supporters will vote solidly for them. We have a history of our supporters not doing the same. It is dangerous to be optimistically shouting that we are winners without recognizing that that in itself may make a large block of our supporters not bother to make the effort to go out and vote. We can hope that the marriage of unity swings the pendulum away from the PPP and the coalition secures victory, but we must work hard and pull out every stop in the quest to see change in Guyana.
Let Nigel Hughes return to the podium.
Yours faithfully,
Norman Browne
