From Burnham magic to PNC sorcery

Oct 18, 2025 Features / Columnists

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(Kaieteur News) – More and more Guyanese accept that Guyana is a strange place.  It is so strange today, that it is straight out of the dark side.  Consider what follows, where conclusions lead.

A vote for the PNC is now a vote for the PPP.  That is more than strange.  It is mind bending, so incredible such a state of affairs is.  It is said that all is fair in love and war.  To that one may now add politics.  But where does that leave a section of Guyanese voters, when their own heroes and inspirations (to stretch matters to the extreme) jump in feet first with the forces of darkness?  Loyal voters tightened their belts, bore their insults and pain, in stoic silence.  It has to hurt, must enrage, when those who said to them ‘trust me’ end up looking out for themselves, taking care of themselves.  I remind fellow Guyanese of that tried-and-true American adage.  There is no such creature as a free lunch.  The Romans of yore had a fancy sounding term -quid pro quo.  The local patois leaves no room for conjecture.  I look out for you; you look out for me.

My question is what was the juice, and how much of it was bargained for, finalized?  No matter how sweet and rich it was/is, there are those Guyanese left openmouthed and asking how could that be.  That is, the PNC joining with the PPP.  There can be no rationalization, particularly the one that looks most obvious.  Convert WIN to a loser.  The biggest loser in that move, for that or any other reason, is the PNC.  I don’t think that it has much of a standing anymore with its own people, and that includes the real hardline, old-time, diehards.  There could still be some holding onto the palm tree for dear life, but far fewer than before.  The regular PNC supporters most likely ‘sucked their teeth’ and muttered a silent curse at those driving that crossover decision.

Now, I invite all Guyanese to consider some words from PPP General Secretary and uber maneuverer, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.  “When a political party allows your hatred of the other to dominate your tactics and your strategy, you will fail.”  He was speaking about the PNC.  Apparently, an overnight miracle occurred.  For those words were uttered on September 4^th, and in the tight span of a month and a few days later, the PNC hatred for the PPP turned to love.  What is there not to love about that political specimen that is a perfect 36-24-36?  In some form or fashion, and with the right incentives, the tactics and strategy of the defeated and dismal PNC went from one that had failure stamped all over it to one that is almost as victorious as the PPP.  It takes some fast learning, even swifter mental adjustments, to make that leap that the PNC did and which catapulted it from the ashes of obscurity to right back into the highlights of Guyana’s political picture.

I have heard that those who can’t be beaten must be joined.  No matter how I try, there is no shaking off the impression that the PNC RDC (Regional Democratic Council capers) were less of joining and more of surrendering and sucking up for a hand holding something in it.  Where are those members of the Guyanese intelligentsia who insisted that shared governance has no future in this country?  It was happening in plain sight long before the PNC crossover into the loving, forgiving arms of the PPP.  And a man named B. Jagdeo.  When I first heard that street protests were off the table, my first question was: what is under the table?  The Guyana environment, the Guyanese political culture, drives such skepticisms, I would extend that to cynicisms.  Take nothing for granted, for the haunted is almost sure to take up residence in the head.

Now let us all face reality.  There is oil moolah by the gallons, and it makes even the pure and once untouchable have second thoughts.  Recall that beauty from American tough guy writer, Raymond Chandler, in his sizzling Farewell, my lovely novel.  “She was a blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window.”  Think of the lure of plentiful oil money in the hands of Jagdeo’s PPP along the same mouthwatering lines, and the human political reactions suddenly make a world of sense.  Who can stand, and will not fall (or negotiate)?  Who is so infallible, that they can resist?  Not I, for sure.  Then again, I jest.

PNC voters are caught on a three-pronged horror.  They can support WIN and hope it endures.  Head to America, and live as undesirables.  Or follow the PNC to the PPP, and accept second-class citizenship.  I am what I am….

(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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• Burnham, GHK Lall, PNC, sorcery

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