What a difference a day makes

Sep 04, 2025 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

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Kaieteur News – What a difference a day makes. In the instance of Guyana and its 2025 elections, it wasn’t even 24 little hours, but less. Literally.

Guyanese got up with all manner of different expectations, many with apprehensions, about what that day (yesterday, Tuesday, September 2) and the next several days would bring. And, in the twinkle of an eye, all was well. The morning clouds rolled by, and it was all sunshine before the twilight arrived to announce its silky velvet presence.

At the beginning of Tuesday, the day after the most crucial elections in this country, it was grey. For the PPP. Its erstwhile leader, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, spoke of low turnout, and the usual PNC fearmongering that contributed. He was not his usual self: confident, sweeping, taking no prisoners. His overnight priority was trying to eke out the most votes to hang on to the presidency. The real story, or a nice acting job, was the question I asked myself. During the day, the man from WIN, Mr. Azruddin Mohamed was talking of the chance that he had to that same coveted presidency. Say what? By then, it was common knowledge, from GECOM to whomever else, that the AFC was DOA and that the PNC was on the ropes. Things were that gloomy all around, other than in the PPP and WIN camps. And then, the miracle. Yes, the miracle.

Before the day could say goodbye to Guyanese, all was well. The PPP did a miraculous recovery, i.e., from sickbed to a bed of roses. It was scampering around from pillar to post to pick up numbers in a low turnout electoral environment, and then there was that sudden surge of numbers. A tsunami of numbers. The PPP literally blew away Guyanese (and the competition) with an avalanche of numbers that bubbled to the surface in its strongholds. Low turnout, what low turnout, folks? First, there was a drought of votes, then there was a deluge that would have left even the Biblical Noah proud (or reeling in shock). Think of this as Jagdeo’s electoral mathematical wizardry.

I am a blessed man. I had some of those miraculous experiences in America that I thought were possible only in America. Then I came to Guyana, and the miracle repeated itself on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. I am tempted to say that the PPP benefited from an only in Guyana miracle, and through divine intervention, then thought better of it. Thank God for Bharrat Jagdeo. Congratulations, sir. I have a good idea of how he pulled that one off, moving from a famine of numbers to a feast of them. Again, all I am saying is simply: well done, sir.

In this furious, thunderous, glorious PPP gallop of numbers (votes), the AFC got trampled unconscious, and the PNC got kicked in the head. May it recover. I wish Mr. Aubrey Norton well; his was a poisoned chalice to swallow. Jesus had one betrayer in his gang; Aubrey Norton had a multitude of them. He never stood a chance, was never given a chance. Then again, through his own weaknesses, he didn’t give himself a chance to be a champion. Now, it is the moment of two men. Two Muslim leaders in a minority Muslim country, another miracle. To those former best friends, now sworn enemies, all the best in the years ahead. As an aside, I encourage citizens not to worry, for in this Age of Guyanese Miracles, the present enmity will sort itself out, sleep sweetly soon enough. How I love this country, and the revelations that upstairs gives to a poor boy from nowhere.

The two Mohameds will be the talk of the town, kings of the Amazon. But my money is on the numbers man, Dr, Bharrat “Miracle worker” Jagdeo. If anyone is expecting me to go beyond that bit of electoral mathematical wizardry, I must disappoint. Not one word about numbers sleight-of-hand. I will not rain on the PPP’s and WIN’s parade. But I must say that Dr. Jagdeo is the king of kings. Ballot boxes in 2020, and sweet, juicy numbers in 2025. Catch me, if you can.

Last, two mischievous thoughts stirred, and because I find them inspirational, I share. Imagine a government of the two winners. Guyanese could have the splendid tag team of WIN-PPP or PPP-WIN. Aw shucks, how can Guyanese lose with such a combination? The second thought is this one: now that Mr. Azruddin Mohamed is poised to be the Leader of the Opposition in Guyana, he poses a concern, better make that challenge, for US Ambassador to Guyana, Excellency Nicole D. Theriot.

There’s Thanksgiving Day in November and Christmas Day in December. What happens when the ambassador has an official function to celebrate those two occasions, or any other? For there it is, a US-sanctioned individual at her official residence. That is, unless Mr. Mohamed, Guyana’s new Opposition Leader, is not invited due to his special status. Sometimes, I am too clever by half. I know, but I can’t let brother Bharrat Jagdeo have all the fun and frolic.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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• 2025 elections, 24 hours, expectations, GHK Lall

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