NATIONAL UNITY, HEALING, RECONCILIATION

May 17, 2015 Editorial

The APNU + AFC Coalition’s offer of National Unity, Healing and Reconciliation was a singular offer that the people of Guyana could not refuse.
Despite the most vicious, divisive, racist and aggressive campaign that the PPP/C could have unleashed during the just-concluded election campaign, with flagrant abuse of Government resources including the national media, the people could not turn away from the dream of National Unity, Healing and Reconciliation.
This was an offer of a dream to come true. It was something that was always in the hearts of the people but in all the previous elections, there was no practical way that they could see it.
And then they were presented with the Coalition. It made sense. It offered hope. And in the minds of the people was a nagging fear; what if this country is to experience a repeat of the PNC/UF coalition. The PPP/C sensed this fear and tried its best to capitalize on it. It pulled out all the stops, in the process instilling fear in the people through one of the most negative campaigns ever witnessed.
At the beginning of the campaign, fresh from the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord and the announcement of the Coalition, the mood of the people was up-beat. You could actually feel the effect of the pent up desire in the nation for National Unity, Healing and Reconciliation. You could have sensed a landslide for the coalition.
But the PPP/C was not to be denied so easily. It ran the most organized and effective campaign ever in its history. It mastered the control of the media, particularly those under its control; NCN, Chronicle and Radio Roraima. The party’s access to friendly media was also unprecedented.
I did not see any Coalition Advertisements on NTN. The support for the PPP from Guyana Times, TVG 28, and E-Networks etc was impressive.
The PPP/C would have had more than twice the number of public meetings than the coalition. Its schedule of meetings was published all over and easy to obtain. The PPP website and social media campaign was always updated and always in your face.
The schedule of public meetings was well organized and attended. The party brought people from all over the country for each of its rallies and built confidence in its supporters.
The negative message got through. And before the end of April, the people were afraid that change will not bring hope of National Unity, Healing and Reconciliation, but instead will result in a return of the dark days of the PNC.
You could actually sense the uncertainty in the people. People who were up-beat and hopeful before would say; I don’t know anymore; do you think this change would be good; how do you know it would be better; etc.
It was as if the Coalition was taking a siesta in the middle of the campaign. The message was not getting through. It was late with its Manifesto. Their public meetings were sparse and poorly organized and attended.
The Coalition’s best friend was Glenn Lall. He consistently kept shining the light on the true record of the PPP/C which helped to dispel the darkness, fear and confusion in the minds of the people.
The next best friend of the Coalition was Hope; the Hope in the hearts of the people for National Unity, Healing and Reconciliation. This hope is a powerful emotion; so powerful, that even after their best campaign yet, the PPP/C could not make the people ignore the possibility that this dream can be realised and that this dream was worth the risk.
There is no doubt that the APNU + AFC Coalition’s offer of National Unity, Healing and Reconciliation was the greatest motivation for the votes they received on May 11. The nation awaits.

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