A genuine attempt at selecting the best possible presidential candidate

Oct 29, 2010 Letters

---

Dear Editor,
The recent decision by the PNCR General Council to delay the adoption of the procedures in which to identify its presidential candidate appears to be a good one, and a genuine attempt at selecting the best possible candidate to lead the Party to victory in 2011.
I am pleased with the inclusion of the first (and perhaps the only) female candidate in the race – Dr. Faith Harding, as it clearly demonstrates a policy of inclusiveness, and the determination of the PNCR to get it right this time.
There are those who suggest that the PNCR should take the next five years to expand its party base, as they have no chance of winning next year. This appears to be a deliberate attempt to sow the seed of doubt among PNCR supporters to get them to stay home on election day yet again, resulting in a another PPP/C victory. The PNC/PNCR has been in the opposition for about 19 years now; in Guyana, there is an old idiom: “What rain can’t full, dew can’t full”. If after 19 years in opposition, the PNCR has not been able to rebuild and expand its party base, another five years wouldn’t make a difference. The PNCR has been around long enough to know exactly what needs to be done to increase voter registration, and to get out the vote on Election Day, and they’re very good at that. The only thing they have to be concerned about is to insure the integrity of the selection process, to allow supporters of Winston Murray, David Granger, Basil Williams and Dr. Faith Harding to come together in full support of the eventual presidential candidate. If this happens, confidence will be restored, the base will be motivated, and the 51,000 supporters that either stayed home or voted for the AFC in 2006, will turn out in support of the PNCR’s candidate.
Look, I’ve been very vocal in my denouncement of Robert Corbin’s leadership of the PNCR, for apart from some of his loyal supporters, he is perceived by many to be the main obstacle to electoral victory. He obviously
recognises this, for why else would he declare that he will not be his party’s presidential candidate in 2011? I believe he is determined not to give up his leadership position because of all the lucrative benefits that come with being Leader of the Opposition.
Corbin would be a great poker player if he’s not already one; for he’s cleverly hedging his bets: If the PNCR wins next year, he will find a way to be appointed Prime Minister and First Vice-President, after all, as Party Leader, he’s the one calling the shots; if they lose, he retains the position of Leader of the Opposition and all the perks that come with that position. Corbin knows that he’s not favoured by the electorate, and could almost guarantee a PNCR win next year if he relinquishes his leadership role in the party, and allow the presidential candidate a free hand to plan his own winning strategy.
But despite the critics, and whether or not Robert Corbin stays on as Party Leader, I boldly predict that the PNCR will be victorious in 2011, for it’s hard to see the PNCR losing this one. Here’s why:
1. President Jagdeo and the PPP/C have created the perfect storm that should lead to their own demise in 2011: They are responsible for the Nation’s bankrupted economy; high taxes; high unemployment; low wages; nationwide corruption; immense poverty and homelessness; uncontrollable drug trafficking, murders and other heinous crimes; giving lucrative deals to PPP/C cronies; and running an Administration that is secretive, and lacks transparency and accountability.
2. Younger voters are more politically astute, and their decision to support a candidate is likely to be more issue-oriented. For the first time, there are real signs that Guyanese in general are less inclined to vote race this time around. In any event, there is hard evidence that the ratio between Blacks and Indians have been narrowing due to migration.
3. Bharrat Jagdeo will no longer be on the PPP/C ballot, and without a Jagan at its helm, the PPP/C will be vulnerable for the first time in terms of its leadership. Neither House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran nor PPP/C General Secretary Donald Ramotar has the name recognition or charisma to expect blind loyalty from its membership. In ant event, they will all have to answer for the evils of the administration they have been part of.
4. I firmly believe that in the end, common sense will prevail and the PNCR General Council will see the wisdom in a Murray/Granger ticket, with Winston Murray as Presidential Candidate. PNCR cannot win without the support of some cross-over votes from the PPP/C and the small percentage of independent voters out there. Whereas Murray at the head of the ticket is best positioned to win over the Indian votes, Granger will not be able to do so. The PPP/C will be relentless in their attacks on David Granger for his role as Burnham’s Political Liaison during the GDF seizure of the ballot boxes in 1973 that gave the PNC a two-thirds majority.
The attacks on Granger has already started, they will only intensify and get nasty. As presidential candidate, he will be spending most of his time defending his actions, rather than articulating his positions on how he would stabilize the economy, create jobs, stop the vicious crime cycle, and restore our leadership role in the region. To date, I’ve not seen a single adverse report on the character of Winston Murray to suggest that he would be an easy target for the PPP/C attack dogs to go after.
And for those who may be concerned about losing the support of black voters with Murray leading the ticket, let me say this: Afro-Guyanese who have suffered the most under the current PPP/C regime, will enthusiastically vote for Murray because of his qualifications, experience, candor, and his 30 years of loyalty to the PNCR party, especially if David Granger is his running mate. After all, what other choice do they have?
Harry Gill

---

---