YESTERDAY, politics was such an easy game to play for the PNC. That was as at Emancipation Day, August 1, 2020. But, as at August 2, 2020, there was a game change and they needed a new place to hide away.
With a shadow hanging over them, they became half of what they used to be. The PNC now flinch when they listen to “Yesterday,” be it the Beatles version or the Merrymen. At the No-Confidence Motion in December 2018, Charrandass’ “yes,” was responsible for that cringe.
The PNC’s troubles are tremendous and they’re here to stay. Now it’s too late for them and their white horse to come around. Their shining armor no longer glitters. They thought they had it made and sorted out during their insensitive reign from 2015 to 2020.
With a majority in Parliament, a Speaker of the House in their pocket, government autonomy, manipulating all public agencies, control over all the armed forces, influence in the court and judiciary, manipulating GECOM and a treasury at their disposal, it was déjà vu again, just like the days with the autocratic leader, Burnham. But, March 5, 2020, changed their fate.
Granger and his boys and girls were smiling all the way to the bank with oil in the making and a compromising agreement to make them comfortable for life. An entire government machinery was at their disposal to ferment autocracy and augment their life style.
Painting Parliament Building with their party’s colour professed power, and the only thing remained, was flying the PNC’s flag above the nation’s flag to portray PNC’s paramountcy, even though they never had the paramount support of the people.
The motion was set to make the PPP/C an extinct species and banish them in the wilderness again. Yet, with a fire aflame inside, the PPP/C was ready to fight their right. The CCJ ensured that righteousness replaced unrighteousness.
PNC lacked foresight and dwelled in hindsight without looking in the rear-view mirror. They learnt nothing from the past when they awarded their ministers more than 50 per cent increase in salaries and allowances to feed their families while marginalising the small man.
They went on a rampage for a walk and traversed over the mass with tax increases in a helter-skelter mood.
Blazing a trail of vengeance, the PNC lived in a state of denial with arrogance and ignorance. They failed to declare the US$18 million received as a signing bonus. Blinded by greed, they couldn’t see the white light with their colour, green.
The PNC/AFC burnt the Berbice Bridge they crossed when they literally shut down the sugar industry by closing four sugar estates and putting some 7,000 sugar workers on the bread line.
During the 2015 Election Campaign, Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, had said that, “we are not going to close the sugar industry… we will make that industry profitable again… it creates so much employment directly and indirectly….”
Moses Nagamootoo, parroted, “Government will not abandon sugar in troubled times… the focus is to make sugar work. We have too many workers who stand to lose with the collapse of the industry. This government will not allow sugar to sink.”
What happened to the sugar levy introduced in 1974 by the PNC, and again, the $30 billion bond secured in 2018? “Never Again” is the cry of the sugar workers as they were persecuted, punished and penalised by the PNC.
The PNC tried to recreate history starting with Burnham, when he rode on Alexander the Great’s horse, walked in Hitler’s booths and wore General Idi Amin’s uniform. He waged a war to conquer, plundered the country’s resources and plucked the richness for his personal gains.
The aged one was casted in the background as bin Laden, doing the dirty work to secure control. Hoyte could not act a Mandela’s role as he only added content by fanning the flame with his, “slo fya, moe fya.”
The Ranger of the forest was no Robin Hood as he styled his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde role while hiding in Dracula’s castle. But, yesterday is dead and gone and, the PPP/C was determined to rattle the chain and break the cage of autocracy over and over, by whispering the name of democracy.
Someone had to be listening and listened they did. With the rod of correction, Moses had commanded Ramses 11, to let his people go. While the US contributed towards shutting the PPP out from power since 1964, the Eagle landed in 1992 to help the PPP to regain power.
The people were set free after 28 years in shackles and the PNC’s wings were clipped for 23 years. Given another break, the PNC was allowed to breathe fresh air again in 2015 but only managed to spoil their luck.
While everyman deserves a second chance, the PPP/C is riding their third round in office after being hood-winked in their short lived first round.
From 2015 to 2020, it was a case of trials and tribulations as the PPP/C fought their way to emerge, after being submerged under the PNC’s irregularities, illegalities and illegitimacies. From the no confidence motion moved and won by the PPP/C in December 2018, the PNC opted to remain in power for some 18 months before calling election.
It was an uphill task, filled with stumbling blocks, pits of quick sand and hidden holes as laid out by the crafty cunningness of a ruthless PNC, to defy all odds and prevent the PPP/C to be legally sworn in as the legitimate winner of the March 5, 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Perseverance, patience and potentialities, provided the necessary protests which persecuted the PNC and pressured them to collapse, giving way to the will of the people. Four years ago, a memorable August 2 danger, will remain a death-defying deed for the PPP/C.
