A remarkable political decision

Jan 20, 2019 Features / Columnists, My Column

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There are some things that seem to defy logic. One of them involves an overseas-based Guyanese who took time off to call me, not once, but twice, to chide me.
A few weeks ago I did a column that examined the political situation in Guyana as it pertained to the selection of the presidential candidate for the political opposition. While there was no formal announcement, the media found out that there were five frontrunners.
I suggested that given the nature of local politics and the sharp divisions in the society, especially along racial and religious lines, it was unlikely that a Muslim would emerge the presidential candidate. I spoke of the People’s Progressive Party being predominantly Hindu; it was unlikely that the party would select a Muslim as its presidential candidate.
I pointed to the fact that Muslims had never held pride of place in the party and that their numbers were never significant in the PPP leadership.
Two weeks passed and a man called me to accuse me of dividing the country at worst, or promoting divisions in the country. He spoke at length of the things he personally did for two black families. In his mind, he had made a contribution at providing some healing in the country.
I was barely able to get a word in; such was this man’s anger at the conclusions in my column. In the end he contended that I, Adam Harris, should not get involved in such matters. I did not get angry, because as far as I am concerned every man is entitled to his view.
It was a little disconcerting that a man who really does not know me should dictate to me what I should do. But then again, that is only a small example of the division in the country.
It turned out that the Presidential candidate is Irfaan Ali. Needless to say the news shocked people across the country, particularly since in recent weeks news surfaced that Irfaan Ali had lied about his qualifications.
The discoveries were amazing. For starters, this was a man who worked his way up the ranks of the party on the back of his university degrees. He was found to have lied about his Master’s degree. The university said that it never offered the course that Irfaan said that he pursued.
He completed the programme in one year when normally people would take two years. Above all, he said that he gained entry to the university by virtue of his first degree. An examination revealed that he got his first degree three years after he got his Master’s.
The then government never took time to assess Ali’s degrees, although when a man is selected to political office his academic qualifications mean nothing.
The fact that Ali prevailed in the Central Committee vote is testimony to his popularity in the party. Secondly, the people who voted did not pay attention to the baggage that developed around him.
Insiders said that Bharrat Jagdeo really wanted Irfaan, and his hold on power within the party prevailed. But to his credit, putting Irfaan Ali as the presidential candidate is a bold move. It signals that the party is opposed to divisions along racial and religious lines.
The concept of Hindus being opposed to a Muslim leader could certainly become a thing of the past. However, from my years of training, I know that people don’t change firmly held views easily. Yet this is a good decision by the party.
The losers in the race for the candidacy will undoubtedly be bitter, even angry. There is going to be a lot of internal damage control. I do know that Anil Nandlall believed that he stood a great chance. He is going to be one of the angry ones. I remember the reaction of Manzoor Nadir after the 1997 elections.
He had campaigned for The United Force and he did badly at the polls. However, he got elected to the National Assembly, which was what he really wanted. He ended up sitting in the PPP benches. He is no longer a political force.
The elections campaign will be bitter. People would zero in on the moral standing of the new candidate. They will point to the fact that Ali would be a surrogate Jagdeo, doing what Jagdeo wants him to do. They are going to say that he will merely be Jagdeo’s puppet, although there are those who will insist that he is a strong person, capable of being his own man.
He has been able to halt prosecution for now. But it will be interesting if the High Court rules that he can be prosecuted. If convicted, then he should not be able to contest the presidency and that would change the party’s political scenario.
For now, the race is on between Irfaan Ali and David Granger. Of course, issues have never really determined the outcome of the vote, but the news media would have a field day.

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