THERE are just 29 days left until Guyana votes for the next government on September 1, and the main opposition party, APNU’s elections campaign for office is lackluster, underwhelming and disastrous to say the least.
Not only is the campaign in shambles but it is worse than its last two campaigns ran in 2015 and 2020.
It is not alone. Misery knows company. The other smaller parties and newcomers are failing in their bid to connect with a large section of right-thinking, sensible and objective Guyanese.
If they do not energise their support base by speaking about issues relative to this year’s campaign, the PPP/C will end up winning an even larger majority than it had before the parliament was dissolved. Let’s examine and analyse this phenomenon.
Firstly, the PNCR party was hemorrhaging long before it was in the business of preparing for elections. It had a political leader, Aubrey Norton who was making several missteps in politics, and was alienating key party supporters.
After all, these party supporters and members knew what was right and not going to go down well with PNCR supporters and the members. He forced his way and went through the three female general secretaries, and now has a puddle and weakest one in the person of Sherwin Benjamin.
Nonetheless, it activated APNU and started the process of coalition talks with longtime partners, the AFC and WPA. The first could not agree to the terms which the APNU wanted and made its counter proposal.
In the end, it failed and the rest is history. APNU then made a backdoor deal with the sell out and controversial co-leader of the WPA and they joined the partnership. Soon, other paper parties would join the coalition of convenience.
At the same time because PNCR which was the lifeblood of the coalition, was bleeding, its troubles continue as several of its MPS and party members left the coalition and party, a majority to join the PPP family.
APNU then strategically stole Juretha Fernandes from the AFC and told the public that the party members want her to be the PM candidate. But Norton could not see that he took nothing from the AFC and added nothing to his coalition.
All the young people that Norton tried to stack the APNU with and change the dynamics of the PNC/APNU are not managing to resonate with the crowd. Norton himself does not seem to understand the mood of the people, particularly Afro-Guyanese in this time and modern Guyana.
For that reason alone, APNU is not managing to get a large gathering or crowd without having to do much work beforehand. It’s embarrassing to watch and all the speakers, except for seasoned politicians, are delivering cringe worthy and docile elections speeches at the poorly attended public meetings.
The APNU failed miserably to get the support of people in Tiger Bay, Georgetown and many more people in South Ruimveldt. It is a widespread rejection now that the support base is disillusioned about Norton and APNU team.
Maybe, the bid for 2025 should have begun in 2023 by the APNU. Norton acted too hastily. The drama that unfolded in 2020 is still playing in the minds of Guyanese. There was no healing and reconciliation.
Supporters tried to tell Norton to go, but he forced his way into the presidential candidacy and now the party has one of the most lopsided campaigns.
The PNCR/APNU will gain no new seats in parliament and will not become the next government with this campaign that is seeing the PPP/C outspending it and gaining significant ground.
Maybe, that is why it sold some shares it had in Republic Bank to raise more funds as its fundraising activities – the bingo, fish and chicken sale, did not amass enough.
And Norton is no fool. He already started the whisper campaign by saying that the PPP/C is trying to steal the elections, knowing the claim to be false. He is gearing up his supporters for the inevitable loss come September unless they come up with a remarkable plan to enter the government.
Secondly, the other parties are doing a bad job to try and convince Guyanese that they can lead Guyana.
The AFC is dead meat since being taken over by Nigel Hughes who was saving it from being ‘consumed’ into APNU. But his period to get the party ready to compete in this year’s elections as an independent is proving difficult and stressful.
The attorney may be a boss in the court room but has not managed so far to connect with ordinary people on the ground despite being there much of the weekends when there is time.
The AFC tagline ‘Better must come’ is not managing to translate into excitement for voting for change despite AFC’s promises. Also, its backroom deal with the WIN party which sees much of the AFC’s formers and resources helping it campaign is proving hurtful to AFC’s chances of extending it seat-count. Its leader has made yet another miscalculation of politics and the PPP/C will school them at the elections.
The crowds at their meetings are almost non-existent and many times their leaders are talking to the empty streets. Not that crowds will translate into votes, but it is a sign that one party has not done enough political work or there is a lack of likeness for the party’s presidential and prime ministerial candidates.
Where did Laura George come from? How did they select her? Surely, the AFC wants to win or get support at the elections but selecting George is desperate and highly questionable. That is why the party will only manage to get a seat or two. The AFC looks uncomfortable and not prepared despite being a soiled third force.
The WIN party deserves a round of applause for trying to kerfuffle the public into believing that it has widespread support. It thinks it is like CN Sharma’s Justice for All Party. Well, it will suffer the same faith as JAF when the results show that support was WIN-d all the time.
Let us be clear, if elections were based solely on popularity, PPP and Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali would still win but it is not that is why JAF did not even get a seat at the table.
It takes political knowledge, service to the people, and bold plan, not just promising the moon and stars.
Azruddin Mohamed does not understand politics or the mood of the people. People, well, Guyanese, would take his money and wear the blue shirts, and still vote seriously for the PPP or the APNU.
His campaign has been having the energy. That is to say when it comes to fake pictures and doctored images! His party has carefully staged many of the meetings and engagements away from the limelight of any media that will ask the right, critical and objective questions.
Mohamed appears to be the running man because the WIN party General Secretary, who is a known comic and comedian, is shielding him. As the public saw, she is using comedy to embarrass those people who truly want to know what are WIN’s policies and plans.
Apart from not studying the art of political communication or anything similar for that matter, she resorts to using comedy to denigrate and criticise the public.
WIN is bluffing their way to see how close they could come to the president. WIN is not serious because the party was dashed together and money is the order of the day. The executive is being held together by a string and once the elections do not yield the results, it will go silently into remission.
Many of the people are now being devastated by association with WIN. All money is not good and clean money! Many more will learn in the lead-up to elections.
Finally, the other parties are not as bright and colourful as the public expected them to be. This is disappointing. Elections deserve time so that the electorate could know the candidates and party. Most of the parties were formed out of convenience and lust for revenge/powerplay. They will fizzle away.
Sadly, the PPP is the only one in the game and has candidates that people really know and like. They know what Ali stands for. They believe in him and the party. They trust him.
Norton, on the other hand, is not the party choice. He was forced upon the PNC and APNU but some voters will vote for the party. Point blank. They will not abandon in the PNC/R.
The others are not serious. So, let us see who makes up the opposition benches.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.