Members of the AFC should respect Carrington’s right to contest any political office

Oct 31, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
Today (31-10-10) the AFC holds its NEC meeting and Khemraj Ramjattan will be formally approved for the position as presidential candidate.
This is based on some agreement between Raphael Trotman and him when they found the AFC.
Everyone ignores the fact that the other co-founder Sheila Holder was never considered for this office and when the AFC formed there was no formal structure and membership that would have allowed others to contest for this position.
The AFC cannot claim to be a party of new politics when it has a modern day dictatorial system that anoints leaders.
This system which is called democratic centralism is also practiced in the PPP which Ramjattan himself rejected when he was a member of that party.
I noticed that Michael Carrington said he is contesting for the position and Ramjattan backers tried to force him out of the race.
Following the blog on that story it was ugly to see the attacks on Carrington for even thinking that he can run.
Brandon Samaroo, a known AFC supporter, called Carrington a “moron”. Raphael Trotman on his facebook in denying what Carrington said he was told by him in a demeaning way referred to Carrington’s comments as worthy of “LOL”, i.e. laugh out loud.
This type of behaviour offers an insight into the AFC and how the Carrington types in the party are treated with disdain and are only seen as vessels to secure the desired lifestyles of the AFC founders and their elite group of friends.
People can only imagine how the AFC bigwigs must ridicule and laugh their heads off at these members who they see as underlings and who refuse to ‘know their place’ in the scheme of things.
Another blogger on SN said Carrington does not have the qualifications neither can he bring in the money.
If in Guyana only a lawyer can be president then this is sad. And if only money is what you need to be a presidential candidate then all the drugs lords will soon be lining up.
Brandon Samaroo said that Cathy Hughes is running to be presidential candidate. This is news. Why all the secrecy in the AFC who wants to keep this information private and on the other hand wants the Government to pass the Freedom of Information Bill.
It seems that some behaviour is only good when the AFC does it and bad when others do.
With these types of opportunistic politicians around, it is clear that this is not about the people; this is about them getting into to office to continue their free ride on the backs of the poor and dispossessed.
They do not care a hang about the masses, only about using the masses to fatten themselves and hoping that they do not notice or if they notice that they do not mind being used.
If the AFC really care they would be taking note of what another SN’s blogger best said “Whether or not one thinks that Carrington is fit to be an AFC’s presidential candidate, it is troubling when a party which purports to be proponents of a new political culture is indulgent in such practices.
It suggests disturbing weaknesses in the democratic character of the party and by implication, major psychic deficiencies at the management level of the party. At a minimum, observers and members of the party should respect Carrington’s right as a citizen, to contest any political office.
That would involve among other things being guardians of the processes which were intended to make our organisational, social and political environments increasingly enabling.
In so doing, we also create and preserve social and political space for our own rights. We do not have to like a person to do or say the right things.”
Navindra Persaud

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Members of the AFC should respect Carrington’s right to contest any political office

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