The news of the current PNC/R leader, Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte, SC, running as a candidate for the leadership of the party once more is welcoming news. I will explain my views for this opinion in a moment.

First, the PNC is holding its Congress meeting in approximately 2 weeks, during which party elections will be held. The leadership post has attracted the usual candidates; Mr. Raphael Trotman, Mr. Robert Corbin, Mr. Vincent Alexander, and yes, Mr. Hoyte.

The first revelation made public was from Mr. Corbin (who helped organized the disastrous July 3 march), saying that he would not be vying for the leadership spot. (One wonders why). Within 48 hours, the public is blessed with another revelation; Mr. Hoyte, (despite previous indications saying contrary), 72, announced that he would be contesting—particularly because of the drastic decline of the state of the nation.

Well, that is it—it is decided. No one can challenge Hoyte—not even that other PNC leader, Mr. Hamilton Green, aka the Mayor of Georgetown (how did that happen?). In a very large sense, this is fortunate, especially for those weary of the continuous level of both criminal and political violence that now sweep the landscape.

No, his re-election will not end our problems—but one must admit, he is the single, most restraining force in the PNC; a party in which there exists a powerful, active, and radical section that is connected to criminals; a section determined to usurp power through violence and criminality. This radicalized section of the PNC is primarily responsible for much of the politically linked murders, and outlandish anti-government demonstrations that we have witnessed. It is this group that is determined to rule—or prevent anyone else from ruling!

It is true that Hoyte does not like the PPP—and for logical, justified reasons. But Hoyte is not yet willing, if at all, to relinquish power to a group of power-hungry PNC upstarts who may very well erase his efforts in arriving at viable benefits for his supporters—some of which materialized in the “dialogue,” only to be stalled by the inept PPP. This PPP government, to say it mildly, is content to deal with Hoyte, the “statesman,” rather than confront the rebellions of Buxtons, etc.

But it is this very naughty PPP that is forcing undue pressure on Hoyte, which may result in traditional Hoyte supporters turning to this radical, dangerous PNC faction—most likely led, incognito, by Corbin. Already, the younger generations of PNC supporters, many of who have grown restless and frustrated with diplomacy, are showing support to the Waddells and Benschops of this radical PNC faction. Our situation is so desperate, I think it is not unreasonable to feel that we are one step away from communal racial conflicts—incited and sustained by politicized criminals. Racial conflicts that will certainly result in massacre of a leaderless, unarmed, and unprepared Indian population.

In such a climate, time is of the essence as civil society (whatever that means in Guyana) leaders and politicians attempt a plan to bring some kind of collective, agreeable government to forestall any civil strife. For this to happen, Hoyte is very valid. With him around, we still have some breathing space. It may sound ridiculous, but a little breathing space is all the help we may need to stay alive.