…of coalition comrades
The long-awaited meeting of the Executive Council of APNU finally met for the first time in TWO years – in effect, the first time since they slid into office. Your Eyewitness wondered who were invited to this conclave of the much-touted “terrific ten” that had launched their “coalition” back in 2011. There would’ve been, of course, the PNC, the WPA, the National Front Alliance (NFA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the Justice for All Party (JFAP).
But were the other five political parties and civil society groups that brought their membership to ten invited? Such as the Guyana People’s Partnership (GPP); Guyana National Congress (GNC) and the Guyana Association of Local Authorities (GALA) respectively. Your Eyewitness couldn’t even remember the other two names or find them on his trusted browser. But apart from the WPA, what can the other “partners” in APNU say? They’re just happy to get a squeeze – especially now that Prezzie’s confirmed that each of the five “parties” mentioned gets a Ministry. Can, say, Keith Scott even get a watchman’s work at the Ministry of Labour on his own?
Then there’s the question of what might’ve been discussed. While the WPA has gotten quite a lot of stick about its street cred following its miserable performance back in 1992, its brain trust did take common positions on issues confronting Guyanese even though they were mostly scattered in the developed economies. (Well, for those of you, Dear Readers, who just had a snide thought, please remember that it took millions to keep Gandhi in poverty!) And they HAVE tried valiantly to remind the PNC – ever so gently – about their commitment to racial and political unity in dear, old mudland.
But the Roopnaraine caper is quite interesting for any number of reasons. Was it discussed at the conclave that even though the man is sick, Prezzie hasn’t allowed him to fade gracefully into the sunset? Why isn’t any other executive capable of replacing him? Is it because he was the chief architect of APNU along with Robert Corbin. Or perchance, even before, with Desmond Hoyte?
After all, he was quoted back in 2012 that APNU actually was hatched back a decade earlier – in 2002. Isn’t that strange? At that time, Hoyte’s strategy of “mo’ fyaah, slow fyaah” was unfolding; the Mash Day breakout had been executed; the five Freedom Fighters for Africans were settling down in Buxton and had chased out Eusi Kwayana. A number of WPA stalwarts had written a famous letter “Not in our name”, denouncing the Buxton-based bandits’ attacks on innocent Indian citizens.
Who from the WPA was setting the stage for APNU? Roopnaraine?
…and constitutional interpretation
The Bar Association had joined the petition to the High Court – as a “friend of the court’ – to interpret Article 161 (2) of the Constitution on the GECOM Chair fiasco. Having received the Judgment, they’ve just announced they “expect” Prezzie to accept the ruling. Your Eyewitness isn’t so complacent.
After all, he was pretty clear in his response: “The Chief Justice gave an appointment based on her perception of the law and I will continue to act based on my perception of the Constitution…”. But that’s the whole point of the CJ’s decision, isn’t it? Prezzie, or no one else can’t just act in whatever way they PERCEIVE the Constitution to be interpreted. So, can you interpret Article 149A: “Everyone has the right to work”, to mean you can start working at anybody’s place of business and sue the owner when he doesn’t pay you?
Sure you can – but it’s the Court that’ll have the last word if you’ll get a penny. Prezzie doesn’t seem to accept that!
…of accomplices
A wounded bandit from Grove who’d escaped from the GPHC was found hiding in a barrel at a house in Agricola. Why Agricola? If your Eyewitness “tell it like it is”, he’ll be “profiling”!