PRESIDENT Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali delivered a master stroke to the opposition, broadsiding their politics, and throwing them on the backfoot with his address in the National Assembly where he announced sweeping measures that his government will implement to counter the cost-of-living concerns, and a variety of other measures to make life much easier for the Guyanese public.
Since then, the opposition has been like a headless chicken, delivering mixed messages to its supporters who appear to be
largely satisfied with the President’s announcements at the moment. Both the AFC and PNC welcomed the move to put $60B in the hands of ordinary households but as was expected they have been criticising the process of determining what constitutes a ‘household’ and the method of ensuring that every single household that is entitled get the cash. Also, the PNC has said the government should give every citizen more, at least $300,000. The PNC and AFC are even trying hard to take credit for the President’s announcement, alleging that they have been lobbying the government for this long now.
The opposition media, unhinged social media personalities who are opposition sympathisers and loyalists, and biased public commentators have been working overtime to criticise President’s Ali’s initiatives. In addition to this, PNC and AFC PR machinery is in overdrive and is having a tumultuous time trying to spin things in the opposition’s favour. The opposition’s programmes both locally and abroad have reappeared over the past few days featuring fake and now-come economists, politicians and financial professionals speaking about everything under the sun from super-inflation to inflation and elasticity in the economy. They have come out of the woodwork and nook and crannies.
Lastly, the looney toons like Elson Lowe, Glen Lall, Rickford Burke, and Sherod Duncan to name a few are frantically shocked at the President’s announcements.
Firstly, the president’s speech was very well crafted with a healthy dose of politics and facts. It was delivered by President Ali with ease, calm, and focus. It struck all of the right cords. It did not miss a beat. It also came at the right and most appropriate time. President Ali schooled the opposition, who was too timid and weak to attend parliament, on policy formulation and articulation in his speech.
The President’s speech spoke directly to the citizenry, breaking down the government’s accomplishments so far and plans for the country far beyond 2025.
It ended on the right note and President Ali called again for unity, togetherness and oneness. He also called for all parliamentarians to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Dr. Ali then called for a newer form of politics in Guyana that does not centre around creating hate, disharmony and division in Guyana. He spoke about his vision for Guyana free from all the things that seek to retard and stun its growth as he addressed the parliament. Classy, in-depth, and pointed are words to describe the President’s address.
Secondly, while the AFC and PNC were picketing the president outside of the parliament, the Guyanese focused their attention on what was happening inside. They paid wrapped attention and rejoiced when they heard the measures that the president announced. They heard a series of strong policy announcements that would take place immediately from free university, slashing electricity bills by half, more aid to cut medical costs and more agriculture aid.
They did not only hear about the $200k cash grant in the streets and despite what the opposition conduits say, there was rejoicing, and both urban and rural areas were alive with discussions. The President’s message was well received by all. Even some of the picketers were overcome with relief at the President’s announcements when they heard it. So, from the interviews done by the state media, and independent and unbiased social media, the Guyanese public welcomed the presentation and measures.
Thirdly, the only section of society that appears a bit confused and dissatisfied is the opposition – the PNC and AFC. They are busy criticising the cash grant announcement and its methodology for distribution. Let’s be fair, the President only announced it Thursday. The dust hasn’t even settled and the opposition is already talking about distribution discrimination and perceived corruption. The government will explain the system for the distribution and the public will know how to qualify.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in response said how the system is anticipated to work and that the public will know very soon but the looney toons and fringe elements have started to create much noise about nothing. The distribution process has not even started and the opposition machinery is firing on all cylinders, spreading the usual false narratives and misinformation. What Aubrey Norton said Nigel Hughes should be doing is encouraging every citizen to take advantage of the opportunities.
They should be organising their supporters to cash in on the offer instead of playing politics. If they are seriously concerned about the cost of living, they would set up information desks to track how much of their supporters or Guyanese are getting and not getting the cash grants so there is evidence to show that discrimination is taking place, if it does.
This is how a smart and intelligent opposition is supposed to be behaving. If they were really concerned about people and were practising people centred politics, they would never say the government should share more money this time around. They are just opposing everything wildly and engaging in senseless and dangerous rhetoric that could cost their supporters to be left behind. The looney toons could also fact check everything the president said in Parliament and hold him to the commitments he made to better the lives of people. Is that too much to ask? Isn’t that being responsible? Isn’t that called being strategic?
Fourthly, there could be no logic in the argument that the government is electioneering or wants to buy people out. The government has long been giving out cash grants to people from farmers, students and workers. To differently able and specific groups. The argument that cash grants will cause super-inflation is beyond reason when one considers the $22B US economy.
What research can show that giving people a one-off cash grant will harm the macroeconomics of the economy? Who said that Guyanese will not display frugality, prudence and care with how they spend? Could the real Economist and shadow Finance Minister please stand up cause the maths ain’t mathsing? For the record, Low doesn’t understand what he is talking about. It’s above his head and schooling. Guyanese economics and mathematics are not skillets that could be bluffed easily and understood just like that. So, it’s okay to leave it to the big boys.
Finally, the desperation is evident in the opposition camp. They are jumping all over the place being duplicitous and hypocritical. Pick a struggle and stick to it. As the president said the opposition should seek to find the solution and not be part of the problem. They should try to find the good first and work with the government to sort out the bad or fix the system.
Let’s wait and see if they can rebound from the President’s masterstroke.