Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

There isn’t anyone in the PPP leadership as decent as David Granger

May 01, 2015 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

The demonization of David Granger by the PPP was expected. Had the PNC put up Robert Corbin, the PPP dinosaurs would have been laughing all the way to the swearing in ceremony of Donald Ramotar. They would have heaved a mountain of accusations against Corbin.
The PPP was literally caught with its pants down when Granger entered politics. The baggage simply isn’t there to show people about Granger. From the time Granger entered politics, the PPP came up with the ballot box affair in 1973. It didn’t work. David Granger was nowhere in Berbice when PPP supporters sought to prevent transport of the ballot boxes to the central counting point in Georgetown.
Then the PPP put a new twist to the ballot box affair. The propagandists from the PPP argued that since he was in the hierarchy of the army in 1973, he should take responsibility for the shooting incident. Such asininity needs no discussion. If one is to use the moral yardstick of bureaucratic authority to level a charge of culpability, then not most but all of the hierarchical kings and queens in the PPP would be facing court trials.
The next stage of attack on Granger was a tactical manoeuvre that the PPP used to outfox the PNC (not APNU) leadership. The PPP managed to manipulate the wife of Walter Rodney, Patricia, and got her to secretly sign on to a Walter Rodney Commission. Mrs. Rodney did so without consulting the WPA and has since refused to grant any interview about this aspect of her involvement with the PPP Government. And the press allows her to get away with it.
Mrs. Rodney came to Guyana, testified, spoke not one word about the direct involvement of Burnham in the murder of Walter (not even made a reference to Burnham) and left Guyana without speaking to the press. Mrs. Rodney must be the only widow in modern times that wants justice for her husband (rightfully so), testified at a commission, and did not speak to the press. She is certainly a strange woman.
The commission laid a trap for the PNC. Two of the commissioners can hardly be described as paragons of impartiality. The terms of reference go way back to the seventies, so information can come out on the rule of the PNC that has nothing to do with Walter’s murder. The PPP saw its chance to get at Granger.
They want him to testify so he could be asked about Burnham’s reign in the seventies. But no one has called on Ramotar, Teixeira, or Luncheon to ruminate on the said period when policemen were shot and killed while guarding the Corentyne polling stations and Guysuco estates were lit on fire.
No one asked Rohee if he was involved in such infamies when he testified. The attempt to use the Rodney Commission to vilify Granger has not worked. The PPP has invented a third weapon to dirty Granger. This particular strategy is vile, sick and evil. Guyanese are told that because Granger was the head of the army, that if he becomes president, he will manipulate the army to commit political crimes and use it as a tool to commit violence against Indian people, like invading their homes.
This was the sermon Bharrat Jagdeo preached to a PPP rally last week and the current Commander in Chief of the army, Donald Ramotar, voiced not one word of objection. Three weapons used to destroy the electability of David Granger have failed. We have ten more days to go before Guyanese vote. This election matches David Granger against Bharrat Jagdeo. It is not a contest involving Donald Ramotar. The area of battle is between a former President whose record is a damaged, blemished, tattered one, as against one of the most decent citizens this country has produced.
There isn’t one, not even one leader in the PPP’s hierarchy who could match the urbaneness, integrity and ethical foundation of David Granger. Can we go down the list? Jagdeo is nowhere near the nationalist impeccability of David Granger. Can Luncheon, Ramotar, Teixeira be compared with David Granger. How about Rohee?
Well, I threw in Rohee for some laughter, because I know from experience some of the less intellectually endowed readers like to see some fun among the serious analysis. But seriously, can you compare the leader of the PPP, Clement Rohee, with the leader of APNU, David Granger? How to start such an intellectual project? The best one can say is that it will be like comparing a bicycle thief with a General who won a war for his country.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Renuka, Mandhana consign West Indies to record loss

Renuka, Mandhana consign West Indies to record loss

Dec 23, 2024

(Cricinfo) – After a T20I series that went to the decider, the first of three ODIs between India and West Indies was a thoroughly one-sided fare. The hosts dominated from start to finish...
Read More
GBA confirms additional bouts

GBA confirms additional bouts

Dec 23, 2024

Opinion: Barbados Cricket Faces Crossroads

Opinion: Barbados Cricket Faces Crossroads

Dec 23, 2024

KMTC Boxing Day Horse race meet turning out to be signature year-end event

KMTC Boxing Day Horse race meet turning out to be...

Dec 23, 2024

Candy Boss Invitational 8-A-Side Football Tournament kicks off Boxing Night

Candy Boss Invitational 8-A-Side Football...

Dec 23, 2024

Chase Academy squares off with St Benedict’s College ahead of today’s final

Chase Academy squares off with St Benedict’s...

Dec 22, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]