Dear Editor,
Parliament has spoken. The Government has been defeated in a no-confidence vote. General Elections must be held within 90 days unless the House by a two-thirds majority, extends that time.
This vote was long in the making. APNU and AFC have caused it upon themselves. Charrandas Persaud will go down in history as a hero to some and as a traitor to others. My wife told me that Charrandas is the only person in Guyana who has “balls”. Whichever side you see him on will be up to the individual.
I campaigned and supported the AFC since its inception. I believe, and still do, that any government should be one for all of the people. The PPP did not show that in government. I was certain that APNU+AFC would have been inclusive, bearing in mind the Valentine’s Day Accord in 2015 and the manifesto they presented to the people. Added to that, I was convinced that candidates David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo would have worked together for all of Guyana without regard to ones’ political affiliation and ethnicity.
To my great disappointment, the nation became more polarised and it was business-as-usual. Now we can have another “new” beginning.
My only and sincere wish and profound hope is that whoever wins the next election, they will see Guyana as one nation. We are neither African nor Indian; Portuguese nor Amerindian; rich or poor; PNC nor PPP; rather we are all Guyanese, and very proud to be Guyanese.
My prayer is that the next government will set up a reconciliation commission and let us speak our truth without fear, and to hopefully put aside our “dark” past. We are a great people and together we will make our country great.
Yours faithfully,
Charles Sugrim
