Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds recently noted that there may come a time when Afro-Guyanese must be reminded that the upcoming General and Regional Elections is not a battle of political parties, but rather, a “battle of the races”.
He made this comment during a recent airing of his “Politics 101” show on Facebook.
Referencing US-sanctioned businessman Azzurdin Mohamed’s recent announcement of his intention to vie in this year’s poll, Dr. Hinds said that the “ding-dong” battle between the businessman and the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is not a battle that Afro-Guyanese should take part in.
“That’s not our business. Let them battle it out. They were comrades. The PPP made Mohamed, [so] let them battle it out. Mohammed may get some Indian votes, [or] he may not. But I’m saying that’s not our business. Let them battle it out,” the politician said.
He added that Afro-Guyanese have their “own battle” with uniting the Alliance for Change (AFC) and the larger People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), two opposition parties that have been unsuccessful thus far in agreeing to coalesce for the elections.
“We got our own battle between the AFC and the PNC. Let’s work out that battle…So, we on the opposition side got to work out our own differences,” Dr. Hinds said.
Still on the Mohamed announcement, Dr. Hinds said, “The most Mohamed can do is get some seats. He’s not going to become president…I think Mohamed is more likely to take some black votes. I’m not burying my head in the sand. I would not like that to happen, because if he takes black votes, it will weaken our ability to win.”
He then said, “And at some point, we have to talk to black people and say that to them that this battle is not just a battle between parties. It’s a battle between races. And ideally, when the race is done, we should all sit down in the government and run the country together, but that’s not the system. One race guh win and run the country”.
The professor added, “Why must we not look after our racial interests, while others are looking after their racial interests. The PPP is looking after its racial interests.”
