OPINIONS: Nomination Day reflections, takeaways, submissions 

Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, 21:12 by Writer

by GHK Lall

Nomination Day should be every day in Guyana. Hence, I recommend that it should be a national holiday. If those are crowds on a workday, imagine what numbers on a holiday. Aside from that, I have these few short reflections, takeaways, to season conversations.

First, there is persistence that Nomination Day be more frequent. Fact number one: when was the last time so many thousands of Guyanese were on time, way before time, for anything? From a wedding to a funeral, to being on the job and ready for business, and to a flight out of Guyana? The latter is omitted because few are the brave who want to be trapped here, all quick to shake the dust off their feet and get out of this town. But think of how many lost manhours that punctuality saves, how much value is delivered. Thousands of Guyanese on time for Nomination Day, which I hope signals the beginning of a healthy trend. Congratulations to the PPP, PNC, and WIN. This is squeezed in to nudge Guyanese into a thinking mode: I wonder if Jesus or Mohamed or Lakshmi had announced that they would be present on Monday last (or any other day), how many Guyanese would have turned out on time. Or at all.

Second, the thought of the panorama observed (from a distance) on Monday was a figment. From red and green to red, green, and blue. The blue looked dominating. An impressive feat, if anyone inquired of me. I should feel right at home. From Red, White, and Blue to red, green, and blue, and not necessarily in that order. If so many dared the gods by coming out under the blue umbrella, here is another thought: there may be multiples of the intimidated and nerve-wracked who stayed out of sight but are still very much part of the fight. Maybe, a sea change is happening right before the eyes with the politics of Guyana. I can smell a faint scent from that sight. It goes a long way to explain PPP fright.

Third, the PPP stated its convictions. A “big” victory come September. That whistle of “big” victory stirs perplexity. If a big victory is so certain, then there is no reason to be so afraid of the small man. Big victory reminds of something else. In this country, politicians from the PPP, PNC, and the now all but diminished and vanished AFC are among the best at talking BIG. But when they have to manifest big heart and big courage and big bullocks, especially before the ruthless invaders and predators (I say so!), they dwindle into midgets. In the olden days, the applicable word was effeminate. If that’s offensive, I substitute airy fairies.

Fourth, weigh this submission. When Guyanese want to experience a sturdy and serious police presence, feel secure in their proximity, a political gathering is suggested. Where else and when else can Guyanese be provided with the Guyana Police Force coming out in force, and not messing around? The edification would be well-received. There is a qualifier that’s necessary for the record. It depends on whose rally is involved. The youngster and newcomer doesn’t count. His group is claiming too much police efficiency of an unacceptable kind on the Linden Highway. The police are having none of that kind of ‘bad’ talk. The novice is learning.

Fifth, Stabroek News, Demerara Waves, and other media entities gave Mohamed the Younger a run for his money relative to ‘no plan.’ He must be more of a magician than a politician. No plan, but the biggest contingent on Nomination Monday. Explains why the PPP is so desperate, so wretched, over this contestant. Claims of big victory and all. If a man has ‘no plan’, yet has that drawing power, then it is time for the next takeaway.

Sixth, the biggest contingent for WIN and Mohamed on Nomination Day says something stark. What the WIN crowd says is that Guyanese are in that state of desperation, frustration, and hopeful vision. A vision unbacked by a plan, and yet they abandon ancient roots to claw at same unformed vision by the tips of their fingernails. No plan, yet so much momentum, is a referendum on how disastrous the PPP is. No plan, but so much appeal—mainly grassroots appeal—conveys that the PNC has lost that much ground, and the PPP its nerves and swagger.

For seventh, massage this one mentally. The indigenous community, long the so-called ‘swing vote’ has swung distinctively in the direction of WIN, notwithstanding incentives and intimidations. What if some of those supporters could have made it to Kingston? Mohamed would have owned Nomination Day.

Last, my favorite color is blue. No ideas, please. More American blue than any other. Nomination Day hints a quiet uprising is occurring in Guyana’s politics.