What is wrong with the AFC?

Sep 29, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I recently migrated to the United States.  I was employed in Information Technology, in Guyana, with an inadequate salary, and now I am looking for a job.
I question myself every day why I came to America and I always find the answer in low pay, no security, victimization, widespread corruption, and the fact that Guyana is now a society where the rich get richer and they can do anything they want with the poor.
I never wrote a letter to the press while I was in Guyana. I guess it was out of fear of victimization. My father was scared of the ruling party, even though he knew that they were doing wrong things.  He always told us, “they are not doing Dr. Jagan’s work, they are robbing us in front of our eyes and we cannot do anything about it because they will victimize us”.  He was the happiest man when he got his permanent visa, but now he is sad and wishes he can get back home and live under an AFC Government.
I read on Demerara Waves an article captioned “APNU not pulling major groups” and discussed it with my father who is still out of work.  This is what he said to me “APNU is dying… and fast”. My father said no political party will have a ground swell in 2011, the people are fed up with the political system and the sole blame for this rests at the feet of the PPP and PNC.  I believe people in Guyana are looking for the nearest exit.
My father said that the PPP will have big crowds but it will be a false sense of support since only that party can afford to use State Resources to transport truckloads all over the country to full up their meetings.
Some people will see these crowds and like sheep some will vote for the PPP and this will give the party a solid 35-40% of the votes.  This is sad since it is stealing election with money.  Why do Guyanese people allow them to do this?
When I was in Guyana, I really liked the breath of fresh air the AFC represented but as an IT person, I think they are pathetic at getting their message out on their website, Facebook, in the newspapers, and on TV.  This is the main reason why many of my friends just told me they are staying away from the elections since the PPP and PNC are no good and will win and the AFC is off the radar.
I personally met some AFC members in the Stabroek Market in early August when they were sharing the AFC newspapers and they got me all fired up, but I was leaving the next week for America – too little, too late.
In Region 3, in my former village, no one knows much about the AFC.  I asked my uncle from Mabaruma in North West about the AFC and he says they are not on the ground.  I asked my cousin in Hampton Court in Essequibo about the AFC and he said they are hiding from the people in Essequibo?  Why can’t the people see the AFC more?
I went to their website. I love their Action Plan and like the faces on their leadership pages, but the website is out of date with old material.  Who is in charge of this website?  That person should be fired! I want to see video of their meeting yesterday uploaded today.  I want to see their opinions on taxes, how they plan to grow the economy, how they plan to create jobs in bullets, how they plan to fight crime.  Why are these messages not more prominent?
Even with all these issues, I still think the AFC will beat the APNU, but the AFC will fail to get the 51% because of a poor campaign strategy.
I have been reading the AFC message and they have made it clear they will not join the PPP or PNC.
As I read the letter columns, people like Khemraj Ramjattan, Gerhard Ramsaroop and Sasenarine Singh, will never allow the AFC to go to the PPP or the PNC and that is good.  If I was in Guyana, I would want the AFC to start a new direction for Guyana.
Will Guyana have a President Ramotar or President Ramjattan?  My father said that question will only be answered in the field, directly related to how hard the AFC works.  If they greet, meet and stay on the ground with the workers more, then they will win the Presidency.
When last the AFC went to Linden? Why are they not up there?  When last they went to Enmore, Uitvlugt, Albion and the rest of the sugar country?
This election is the AFC’s to lose and based on what I saw, they are losing it.  My father asks why people like Navin Chandarpal, Mark Benschop and Moses Nagamootoo are not in the AFC?
The AFC started its campaign in January 2011 and my father went to it and he said the AFC had enough time to win this elections.  Upon making some email enquiry, I found out from Guyana that the AFC’s strongest enemy to its work is – itself.
Why is the AFC not out in the villages campaigning day and night?  Where are Ramjattan, Trotman, Gerhard Ramsaroop, Sasenarine Singh, and all those other leaders who I saw on their website?  These leaders have got to work harder to win these elections, but today, none of my Guyanese-based friends who mainly live in Georgetown and the West Coast have heard of any AFC meeting in their neighbourhood.  What is wrong with the AFC?
I like the AFC but I remain unimpressed that they are not reaching out to the youth voters more.  My friends say their TV program is boring and flat, with a message that is hardcore politics that has no connection to youth issues, women issues and the man in the street issues.
A good point for the AFC is that Team Ramjattan/Trotman is back, we youths like that. It’s a breath of fresh air!  But we want to hear their message, we want to see their manifesto, we want to meet their leaders in Region 3 and I want to come back and vote if I can, but why waste 800 US dollars when I cannot even hear their message on their website and Facebook.
Nyron Asgar Ali

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