OPPOSITION Leader Aubrey Norton delivered a very feisty speech at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. Speaking to his supporters, Norton gave them an insight into his plan for the upcoming polls, and what they should be doing in the lead-up to, and after the 2025 general and regional elections.
Norton said publicly that his party will “fight” what he sees as attempts of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to rig or influence the 2025 elections by the importation of foreign labour. He wasted no time in saying that it is a “government plot”, accusing the PPP of “really bringing people to vote” and “to use them”.
The opposition leader also told the crowd gathered at the rally that the PNCR, APNU and, presumably, the AFC wanted GECOM Chair Claudette Singh “to go.”
Norton cited two main reasons they wanted to see the “back” of Singh. Calling her a “poodle” of the PPP, he clarified that “she must go in peace” so that the outcome would be “free and fair.”
Almost immediately, GECOM slammed the opposition leader’s remarks, issuing a pellucid statement which dismissed many of the notions as misinformed and baseless. GECOM said that it is a law-abiding constitutional agency that will uphold the law and apply it. It appeared to throw cold water on Norton’s threat, and said no case of voter impersonation occurred during the last election.
It seemed to be saying, too, that there was not anyone who was not entitled to vote that got to vote, as its security and protocols prevented this from happening.
Others, too, have upbraided Norton and the PNC/R for this narrative that they are peddling.
Firstly, the public is not surprised at Norton or his conduct at the rally. He was bound, somehow or the other, to put on his cloak of desperation, leaving the clothing of decency and truth behind on the floor. Elections 2025 are much closer, and it is the public’s view that the opposition is desperate and running to their stronghold saying anything that they think will stick with their supporters.
There is no more playing ‘Mr. Nice Guy’, and we can expect some of the nastiest, vilest, and most scandalous things from the opposition leader. He, nor the PNC will play it clean; gutter politics is what they are known for. The constant name-calling and allegations will now dominate the political discourse.
“Nincompoop”, “stupid”, “little”, “liar” and “poodle” are just the tip of the iceberg. The public must hold tight; Norton isn’t yet finished putting on his murky slip and getting ready to ‘buse and cuss’ the PPP.
It is unfortunate that politics in Guyana has come to this. Norton would have been more respected and loved had he not gotten personal by referring to government politicians with disrespect and contempt. His presentation was overshadowed by the rancour and pettiness of his rhetoric. He should learn that the art of linguistics or the art of political shade does not require anything but facts.
Breaking it lightly to Norton, he is no wordsmith. Maybe, it is time for the teleprompter to come out of Congress Place, as the opposition leader is embarrassing his party and all that it stands for.
Secondly, Norton’s plan is to create a distraction from the good and very hard work that the government has been doing with getting Guyana’s laws in order, particularly in relation to the strengthening of the ROPA (Representation of the People Act). These amendments, which were developed and implemented under the PPP/C, will ensure that Norton and his acolytes do not cause confusion about the election numbers.
Norton wants to distract people from the fact that the government has been providing opportunities for young people and adults in sports, labour, human services, health and education. Norton wants Guyanese to forget the massive and successful public infrastructure projects that the PPP/C government is delivering, along with everything it has promised in its Manifesto.
Norton does not even respect his supporters at the rally to present any shred of evidence, either past or present. It’s now more than four years after the last election, and the public still has not seen the PNC’s SOPs or any evidence of voter fraud or voter impersonation. And, do not let us talk about dead people voting, foreigners and illegal citizens, and the other types of voter fraud that Norton and the PNC want us to believe will happen in 2025, if we are not vigilant.
Show us the lists, Mr. Norton! You had elections agents and the list purportedly from the Immigration Department that the PNC or APNU+AFC claimed included people who were not in Guyana but somehow voted.
Norton, it would appear, wants the levels of xenophobia and race violence to take centre stage in the lead-up to the elections. He has adopted the anti-foreigner approach, and wants to appear to be the ‘immigration Czar’ in Guyana. So, he dabbles in the pond and out of the pond. Let’s be clear, Africans, Bangladeshis, Venezuelans, Indians, Haitians and other groups are only going to vote in Guyana’s 2025 elections, if they meet and conform with all the Constitutional provisions.
Guyana is not a country with closed borders, and believes in protectionism in this global hemisphere. If they were law-abiding citizens that could make an investment in our country that would lead to its development, why turn them away and spread false rumors about them, Mr. Opposition Leader?
Thirdly, there is no government plan to rig. There is no plan to use the issuance of cash grants to rig either. President Irfaan Ali and Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo have spoken about this issue, ad nauseum. Norton is clutching at straws and wants to derail the cash-grant process, believing that he can delay the polls with his special brand of ‘confusion powder’. That is why the PNCR changed its tune from playing race-politics to free and fair elections with biometrics. It sheepishly wants to delay the will of the people, and frustrate the exercise of their franchise.
The public is clear about one thing, and that is that the PNC must concern itself with aiding in the process towards ensuring free, free from fear, and smooth elections are held. No rigging or attempting to rig the elections. No trumped-up claims about voter fraud, voter impersonation, and election skullduggery if you do not have clear evidence. And, the evidence must not be in your head only. It could either be circumstantial evidence, or a breach of existing laws.
Singh will not go! GECOM, under her watch, will be the public’s eyes and ears to stave off any attempts to rig the 2025 General and Regional Elections. The GECOM will stay firmly in a ‘frontal’ posture. She is not in the ‘back-politics’ business, though the PNC seems to ‘like’ going back. So, Singh will stand tall!
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.