Voices of reason in PNC leadership

IT has been reported that the political clique that allegedly incited their supporters into riotous, even criminal behaviour on the West Coast of Berbice attempted to instigate Buxtonians into joining the fracas they were organising countrywide, but, to the amazement of those who had experienced and/or observed the mayhem caused by the Buxton uprising, the Buxtonians apparently flatly refused to become engulfed in the cataclysmic and destructive aftermath of such activities.

Buxtonians had endured much in the past from heeding such divisive leadership that would see the country in flames rather than relinquish power, and they prudently apparently refused to take that path once again.

Buxton, once acclaimed for sons and daughters – from both major races, who were intellectual giants; for great scholarship, and even former President and current Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has always acknowledged the input his former teacher, Buxtonian Ms Audrey Payne, contributed to shaping his intellectual growth; for exceptional talent in the arts and sports, had become a pariah in the eyes of their fellow countrymen and the world; when even loyalists such as Eusi Kwayana had to flee that community and employers rejected job seekers who had an address in that locality. But in the darkest hour emerges enlightened leadership – and Buxton had M’Boya Wood.

In 2010, during the 170 years Emancipation celebrations, M’Boya, recognising that the village needed urgent financial and other help, emailed fellow Buxtonian Presidential Adviser Odinga Lumumba, seeking audience with then President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.
Wood, then domiciled in the USA, decided to become an intermediary between the (PPP/C) government and Buxtonians. He gathered a team of fellow villagers and met with then President Jagdeo for discussions on the way forward. The outcome was M’Boya volunteering to facilitate a meeting with President Jagdeo and Buxtonians in that village.

To shouts of ‘’HAM JAMBO!” (WELCOME) and thrumming of African drums, Dr Jagdeo was greeted effusively by village leaders led by M’Boya, Odinga, and during that historic meeting President Jagdeo refuted a lie that had been peddled that he had denigrated Buxtonians.

Wood told the President that Buxtonian women had been severely traumatised by the events that had made their community a pariah in the Guyanese society for over eight years; so the President invited Buxtonian single parents to a meeting at the stadium to resolve their issues and address their problems. During that follow-up meeting several women signed up for the WOW programme and other developmental/educational opportunities.

Wood told the President that Buxton needed a complete overhaul, whereupon the former was informed by the President that the help was always there on offer, but was rejected by the village leaders. Since then, with the Buxtonians themselves opening up their community to exploration of their potential for growth and development, that village had changed by leaps and bounds for the better with the fulfilment of the former President’s promises, especially with clearing farmlands; enhancing drainage and irrigation systems; rebuilding and re-furbishing the Tipperary Hall; establishing a series of programmes, including an IT centre and a steel band for youth development, among others.

At a subsequent pre-elections PPP/C meeting in Buxton, a well-orchestrated invasion by APNU supporters who had amassed a short distance away with APNU posters before storming the PPP/C meeting with strident shouts of “We want Granger” backfired, because first former PM Sam Hinds, in his calm, measured, reasonable way, encouraged the APNU supporters to listen to the speakers, no matter which party they were supporting, and then rationalise their choices before deciding on their way forward; and they stopped heckling and stayed to listen.

But the star of the evening was undoubtedly Mboya Wood, who quelled the few insistent hecklers and turned the tables on APNU, which had intended to disrupt the PPP/C meeting – a strategy that backfired when the APNU supporters quieted and began listening intently to first Mboya Wood and then PPP/C presidential candidate Donald Ramotar, as the former gave his reasons for supporting the incumbent party. The latter outlined the developments so far undertaken by the government, and the projected developments of the incoming government that he was proposed to head.

Wood described the mixture of APNU and PPP/C supporters as a beautiful Guyanese mosaic. He encouraged the crowd to be civil, as incivility and contentious behaviour will get no one anywhere, because dialogue with each other as intelligent people who will listen to each other before making choices is the right way to solve problems.

When he had captured the crowd’s attention he related stories of life under the former PNC administration, when Buxtonians suffered the wrath of the PNC right alongside other communities. During those days, Wood recalled, Buxton had no proper infrastructure, no water, “…no proper anything”, and no hope, causing many to join the WPA under Walter Rodney.
According to Wood, those were the days when people were not free to make such choices.

“Who dares to tell me that I cannot join the PPP/C?” he thundered, then related a progressive series of incidents that drew him to that party and convinced him that this was the best choice for continued development in the country

Only voices of reason and good leadership – on both sides of the political divide — can heal our nation and enable Guyana and Guyanese to optimise and achieve its/their full potential for economic growth and development. To the surprise of the nation, during the recent mayhem that was incited by political opportunists, former PNC chairperson Volda Lawrence, emerging from under the shadow of Joseph Harmon and David Granger, displayed her potential for great leadership by urging a surcease by rioting PNC supporters and encouraging them to embrace peaceful avenues to conflict-resolution. Only time will tell if Volda Lawrence can re-shape the image of the PNC from that defined by the behaviour

Every single PNC presentation is based on two fundamental PNCR principles! Race and money!
1) Racial division using the 2 boys!
2) They want the administration to give hard cash to only PNCR supporters!
Growth, progress prosperity and Development of the Nation and the Guyanese people are not on their agenda!
Listen to their opening and closing comments carefully! There is no substance in the middle!
The middle is used to inadvertently and unknowingly expose David Granger and the APNU AFC failures over the past five years! Sad but lack of a strategy and direction will do this to a person!
Problem is, everyone in and out of Guyana is fully aware of the multitudes of failed, incomplete and non starter projects!
It is as bright as day!!
These PNCR thugs will never change their ways!

The GOVT has to stop Lincoln Lewis stealing people lands in Berbice by claiming "ancestral rights".

Never seen such barefaced people in my life. None of dem riggers should be in Parliament.
Shame on PNC thieves.

The demonic PNC is threatening Democracy and the Rule of Law in Guyana by their unpatriotic and more so undemocratic Actions. What is the objective of their ugly protest Actions?

HEARTBROKEN
“I am really heartbroken to see the persons who took an oath to stand for all Guyanese and especially for the Amerindian community and would vote against the development of their fellow brothers and sisters. You know something that really hurt me and that I am really upset about, is Ms. Dawn Hastings specifically mentioning she will tell the Amerindian community in her language and in their language that she didn’t vote for them. That is what she said, it’s disappointing to see how these people are dishonest, barefaced, shameless, you know, sitting in Parliament and claiming they are representing the Amerindian people,” Dr. Smith conveyed.
The parliamentarian said that the PPP/C government has plans and programmes to benefit every Amerindian community and as Amerindian Heritage Month is being celebrated, government will continue to work hard and make representation countrywide.
Meanwhile, government MP Yvonne Pearson-Fredricks, in her response, noted that the APNU+AFC is vindictive and under the current government, all interest of the Amerindian community will be respected and supported.