Dear Editor,
We observed the third anniversary of the successful no confidence motion last Wednesday December 21, triggering new elections that catapulted the then opposition PPP into office. Had it not been for Charandass Persaud, the coalition would have still been governing till this day. The 2019 NCM outcome was not unexpected. Rumours swirled weeks earlier that two government MPs were considering voting in favour of the NCM. It was not entirely unexpected that Charandass Persaud would vote for the motion. Charandass was feeling guilty and helpless on how to respond to his constituents’ complaints and expectations. He could not face them. He tried countless times to get AFC leadership to intervene on their behalf, but they were not willing to listen or take action.
There was friendly banter on the rotunda among MPs of both sides. None of the government MPs expected defection in the vote. No opposition MP expected defeat of the government. On the 21st late afternoon, I boarded my Delta flight at JFK on way to Paris to connect with Air France to Mumbai. About three hours in flight on Delta, I saw a news item (Demerara Waves, I believe) on my phone messages saying the government lost the NCM. I immediately phoned my friend Ravi Dev (while in flight) who confirmed that Charandass voted with the opposition against the government on the NCM. The government fell.
In the diaspora and at home, as reflected in reactions to his vote, Charandass was immediately considered a hero by those opposed to the coalition. They cheered his support for the vote. They were glad the government fell. Friends in India were also pleased with the vote; they fondly remember Charandass who visited India in January 2018.
Sincerely,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram
