By Abena Rockcliffe
Yesterday, We Invest in Nationhood’s (WIN) Presidential Candidate, Azruddin Mohamed ditched the media. A press conference was hosted to officially launch the party’s manifesto. Humor me as I explain that a manifesto is basically a compilation of promises to the electorate. The irony is to be appreciated; at the same event where Mohamed launched his promises to voters, he made a promise to the media, and broke it.
The initial deal was, during the official presser, the media would limit questions to the ambit of the manifesto. Then, at the end of the official launch of the manifesto, Mohamed would have entertained general questions.
The signs that Mohamed would not have made good on the promise were there. Only a small number of questions were asked—on the manifesto as requested—before the media was told, “answers to all your questions are in the manifesto.” Even the “supporters” or party members, who outnumbered the press, soon began to echo that sentiment. That response overtook the popular “soon and very shortly” that embodied Mohamed’s previous encounter with the press.
When campaign manager, Odessa Primus, closed the press conference, Mohamed swiftly left the room.
How does one expect media operatives, who are also voters, to believe one will implement the lofty initiatives promised when you cannot even keep a simple promise to answer questions? That sort of behaviour does not bode well. That stain has now joined many other unsavory realities that characterize Mohamed. Yet, he remains loved, respected and embraced by a noteworthy section of the electorate.
In the beginning, Mohamed’s most boisterous and ardent support came from the “scrape” community. Many believed that was the extent of his following. But it has extended.
With all that is stacked against him, can Mohamed actually be a formidable political force in Guyana?
I made a list.
1. The United States has sanctioned Mohamed.
2. The government has painted him “a Maduro puppet.”
3. He is before the local court on charges of tax fraud.
4. He is accused of murder.
5. He is accused of accidentally killing a child.
6. He lacks significant accomplishments in academia.
7. He is not very articulate.
8. He is inexperienced in politics.
9. He hasn’t been able to outline his road map to achieve and sustain the life he is offering Guyanese.
But people do not seem to care.
People are seeing real consequences for working along with, supporting or even being in close proximity to Mohamed. Visas have been revoked, bank accounts closed, threats made, and men in uniform have been punished. All for supporting Mohamed. One would think that by now he would have been made a leper. But far from, he continues to mobilize support; from the traditional support base of “scrapes”, to intellectuals and seasoned politicians. How is he doing it? Is the sheer aesthetic of being a billionaire enough to pull such support?
Seasoned political figure, Vincent Alexander believes charity to be the pull factor. Political activist, Dr. David Hinds chalked black support up to a paucity of consciousness.
People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) supporters and trolls who have been working overtime to pull down Mohamed, believe it to be paid support. While there may be some elements of this, specifically to the benefit of “influencers” close to the campaign, we cannot honestly believe that those tens of thousands are paid each time they show up. That is an unsustainable feat, even for a billionaire. Not forgetting procedural limitations.
Mohamed’s camp claims that the overwhelming support for the nascent party is owed to frustration. Their narrative is that people are simply fed up with the PPP/C and are rallying around a political rookie who they believe can unseat the incumbent of an oil-rich nation.
My humble opinion is that Mohamed’s allure is not owed to one factor. There has to be a multivariate explanation.
What is undeniable is that there are several cases, in Guyana and across the world, of candidates who overcame the same challenges and secured the presidency.
Incumbent President, Dr. Irfaan Ali had 19 fraud charges to his name when he contested the 2020 elections. Further, he was banned from travelling to Canada. But recently, at the Canada Day event, both countries boasted strengthened ties.
Mohamed himself pointed out at yesterday’s presser that America is ready to work with the newly appointed Syrian President, who was sanctioned.
Another comparison is to two term President of the United States, Donald Trump. They are both billionaires and “worked” the system. In fact, Trump had created a stir when he admitted to his tax avoidance. The American electorate appreciated the raw truth. Further, Trump said that his then opponent did nothing to make him pay his fair share because friends and donors enjoy the same breaks that he did. Then Trump said, “I understand the tax code better than anybody that ran for president.”
The allure of Mohamed being a billionaire is not to be underestimated. For some who believe there is no such thing as an ethical billionaire, this may not be an alluring factor for they know to become, and remain a billionaire, you have to bypass some ethics, and possibly, laws.
But others don’t venture into that aspect of things.
Aubrey Norton’s has been for his penchant for hanging out and imbibing at Orange Walk known as “Bam Bam Alley.” People shun his simplicity. The PPP/C never missed an opportunity to remind that Norton likes Bam Bam Alley. If that truth is a turnoff to people, then Mohamed’s yacht cruises, hunting trips, fleet of luxury cars, mansions and beautiful women willing to accept his game, must be attractive. Some people aspire to be like him, so they follow and hope.
Then, there is a narrative that Mohamed is being victimized by the PPP/C. People tend to root for the protagonist. As I said, multivariable.
