Dear Editor,
In my letter `Disaffected APNU+AFC supporters don’t want Bharrat Jagdeo as puppet master’ (SN, 18th February 2019) I noted that the PPP/C cannot win over disaffected APNU+AFC supporters and is now likely to lose the next General Election.
This is because even with the misdeeds of the APNU+AFC Government David Granger is still seen as “decent” and “trustworthy”. In comparison, the PPP/C have fielded Irfaan Ali someone allegedly tainted by various accusations who makes outlandish claims of planning to create 50,000 jobs. Yet, Irfaan Ali is not in the spotlight; Bharrat Jagdeo is. APNU+AFC supporters just do not like nor trust Bharrat Jagdeo. They view him as wanting to maximise and monopolise money and power. I am inclined to give people a second chance if they turn over a new leaf but this has not happened.
What is needed is for the PPP to rebuild itself with a new breed of politicians (“newbies” who are not tainted by the politics of the past). This means Bharrat Jagdeo needs to be gone; Donald Ramotar needs to be gone and now Irfaan Ali needs to be gone.
The misdeeds of the APNU+AFC Government does not mean their supporters are about to abandon them and join the PPP/C (they are, of course, exceptions).
The only way that the PPP/C can win the elections is if the APNU+AFC continue with their determined effort to subvert the democratic process and not hold elections. The longer it goes on the more damage it does to David Granger’s “decency” and “trustworthiness”.
When one listens to supporters of the APNU+AFC Government and the PPP/C Opposition it is recognised that people are not voting for them because they love them; they are voting to keep the other side out. Essentially, people are not voting for who is best to lead them. They are voting for who is not worse to lead them.
Yours faithfully,
Sean Ori