The political alliance between Nigel Hughes, leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), and Aubrey Norton, leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), is in a state of collapse—much like a patient on life support with no chance of revival. Once a political force, their coalition is now morally bankrupt and directionless. The blame game, petty power struggles, and sheer lack of vision are proof of their inability to unite Guyana’s diverse population under a meaningful agenda.
Nigel Hughes: An Empty Intellectual Facade
Nigel Hughes portrays himself as the intellectual superior in this chaotic coalition. He attempts to position himself as the savior of Afro-Guyanese voters, but his party, the AFC, has no tangible support to boast of. Hughes’s rhetoric, claiming moral and intellectual superiority over Norton, is nothing but an act to conceal the glaring reality: the AFC is a party without a voter base.
Where are Hughes’s lifelong supporters? Where are his voters? These are questions Aubrey Norton must confront Hughes with. Once helmed by Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan, the AFC had betrayed Indo-Guyanese voters by aligning with the PNC—a move that alienated a significant segment of Guyana’s population. Hughes now seeks to influence Afro-Guyanese voters, a strategy that reeks of desperation and division.
Aubrey Norton: The Arrogance of Mediocrity
On the other hand, Aubrey Norton leads the PNC with staggering arrogance. He has shown little interest in bridging Guyana’s racial divide, focusing instead on pandering to a shrinking Afro-Guyanese voter base. Norton’s refusal to shake hands with the Indo-Guyanese President epitomizes his narrow-minded approach to leadership. This is not the behavior of a unifier but of a man consumed by his political insecurities.
Aubrey Norton’s use of the race card to target Indo-Guyanese voters exposes his lack of understanding of Guyana’s diverse political landscape. Despite his attempts to rally Afro-Guyanese support, they do not form the majority of the electorate. By accusing Indo-Guyanese of racism, Norton has made a grave political error. His refusal to shake hands with President Dr. Irfaan Ali, a gesture symbolizing unity, further demonstrates his inability to rise above divisive tactics.
By accusing the Indian leaders and allegedly the Indo-Guyanese voters as racists, Aubrey Norton is now approaching them to vote for his party. What a joke! This misstep has alienated the Indo-Guyanese voters and tarnished his political reputation.
Nigel Hughes, meanwhile, has positioned himself as the leadership competitor within PNC but has failed to show evidence of significant support among the Afro-Guyanese voters. The betrayal of Indo-Guyanese by the AFC, led by Nagamootoo and Ramjattan, remains fresh in voters’ minds, particularly the sugar workers, mainly Indo-Guyanese, who were misled into supporting David Granger. The 5000 voters who gave victory to PNC/AFC were Lifelong PPP supporters. These disenchanted voters will never forget the betrayal by the AFC Party.
Moreover, Hughes’s influence claims are baseless, as he primarily appeals to the same Afro-Guyanese base as Norton, leading to infighting and a fractured opposition. In addition, the Indo–Guyanese do not want to see the faces of disgraced Nagamootoo, Ramjattan, and the new AFC party leaders for conning the sugar workers with promises that these two Guyanese could not deliver.
The PNC/AFC coalition’s singular focus on securing an Afro-Guyanese presidency is both unrealistic and outdated. Norton and Hughes must take a page from global politics, where diversity and race cards are dead in the USA. President Donald Trump underscored the importance of recognizing talent across all communities rather than dividing people by race. Suppose Norton and Hughes continue down this path of race division. In that case, they risk further alienating most of Guyana’s voters and ensuring their political irrelevance in a nation striving for unity and progress.
The Betrayal of Indo-Guyanese People
The AFC’s history of betrayal is etched in the memories of Indo-Guyanese voters. Nagamootoo and Ramjattan, former AFC leaders, had once gained the trust of sugar workers and other Indo-Guyanese communities. However, their partnership with the PNC, marked by broken promises and neglect, ensured trust would never return. The Indo-Guyanese electorate, fully aware of this betrayal, has turned its back on the AFC.
David Granger’s election victory was built on the backs of sugar workers (Indo-Guyanese), who Granger, Nagamootoo, and Ramjattan later abandoned. Furthermore, Norton’s accusations of racism against Indo-Guyanese leaders only deepen the wounds, reinforcing the perception that the PNC and AFC are incapable of genuine inclusivity.
The Reality of Guyana’s Demographics
Hughes and Norton must accept a fundamental truth: Guyana is a multiracial country. Relying solely on Afro-Guyanese voters, especially when they are a minority, is a losing strategy. If these leaders continue to fight for the same shrinking pool of votes, they will become irrelevant in the broader political landscape.
The PPP leadership knows that Nigel Hughes is determined to oust Aubrey Norton and take over the PNC party because his own AFC party has no vote bank and lifelong supporters. Whereas the PNC has some lifelong supporters.
The Road Ahead
It is time for Guyana to move beyond Hughes and Norton’s divisive politics. Their inability to lead, coupled with their penchant for betrayal and arrogance, makes them unfit to represent the aspirations of a multi-ethnic nation. Guyana deserves leaders who can unite its people, not divide them.
For now, Nigel Hughes and Aubrey Norton remain trapped in their own delusions of grandeur, oblivious to the fact that their time in Guyana’s political spotlight is running out. Their coalition is dead, their credibility is in tatters, and their relevance is fading with each passing day.