WINSTON “OBAMA” MURRAY?

Aug 22, 2009 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

I listened closely to the Press Conference hosted by Dr. Richard Van West Charles and Mr. Winston Murray. I was impressed by Mr. Murray, extremely impressed.
His answers to the tough questions posed to him at the Press conference – I hardly hear our journalists posing such questions to the present leader of the PNCR- revealed a sharp, incisive and matured mind. They also revealed an openness and honesty that was refreshing.
Mr. Murray has clearly matured since he first made his political entry into the People’s National Congress over thirty years ago. He demonstrated at that press conference that he has what it takes, and in fact, represents what it takes.
I wish him luck in his contest for the leadership of the People’s National Congress Reform. He will need it.
I hope that he wins today. I am doubtful about a free poll but I hope that the Gods conspire in his favour because his election as leader of the People’s National Congress Reform will be a major landmark.
Mr. Murray has secured a most important endorsement, that of Dr. Richard Van West Charles. I have been surprised by Dr. Van West Charles. He has done something that is really special and selfless. He has touched me by what he has done. You rarely in Guyana see politicians being prepared to sacrifice their own goals for the same of their parties and country. Dr. Van West Charles has earned my respect for what he has done.
It will require much more than that however to see Mr. Murray becoming the leader of the PNCR. It will require divine intervention to see Mr. Murray through the elections. The deck is stacked against him. There are serious problems surrounding the present Congress; problems which could throw the entire electoral process within the party in jeopardy and which can undermine the entire Congress if not ironed out before.
The optimists are hopeful that these problems can be ironed out, but history is not on their side. This is why it may require an act of God for Mr. Murray to prevail as leader.
He is going into the election without the necessary safeguards for a free and fair poll. The basic prerequisite for a fair poll rests foremost in ensuring that the delegates list is not distorted either by padding or by individual groups being disproportionately represented at the Congress.
This is the identical problem that emerged during the last Congress when Team Alexander was forced to withdraw over concerns about the process. The Murray camp is probably not going to make the same mistake, nor to imitate the tactics of Alexander and withdraw from the elections.
To do so would pose two sets of problems. Firstly it will hand the incumbent leader victory without a contest and thus the possibility of involving the delegates in the process, however flawed, of being involved.
The delegates can make a big difference to this congress. Secondly, a withdrawal from the process will probably see the Murray/ Van West Charles Camp being left out of the Central Executive and this will ultimately result in their permanent isolation from the party.
There are thus two choices open to the Murray/ Van West Charles Camp. The first is to enter these elections knowing the problems with the delegates list and thus risk suffering a humiliating defeat. The second is to withdraw from the process and be permanently exiled from the party.
There can only be one choice in such a situation. Demand the integrity of the delegates list and if this is not forthcoming, enter the elections under protest and force a contest or at the least, a postponement of the elections until the list is rectified.
If the PNCR chooses Mr. Winston Murray there is going to be greater excitement within the party. Already we are seeing indications that some of the old Reform members are prepared to support Mr. Murray. If elected, he may convince them to come back.
This is absolutely necessary if the PNCR is to regain the ground lost during the last General Election to the Alliance For Change. With the Reform back under a Murray leadership, the Alliance For Change will disintegrate.
A Winston Murray for leader will also represent a dramatic shift in the political culture of the PNCR. It would be unprecedented, something only dreamt about, a historic day when a Guyanese of East Indian ancestry would assume the leadership of the African-dominated party. It will be like what happened in America where White America elected a President of African ancestry to the highest office of the land.
Will Winston Murray be the Obama of Guyana? This will be decided today.

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