Leonard Craig fires back at opposition: “Dem ain’t own me or you”

Former APNU+AFC official Leonard Craig has pushed back against the political opposition, declaring that the party doesn’t “own” him, as he condemned ongoing attacks on Afro-Guyanese who have thrown their support behind the PPP/C.

“I am a black man, an Afro Guyanese. They will tell you that if you are born in this skin, you must support the PNC. Them ain’t own you and them ain’t own me,” Craig said to a mixed gathering of supporters at the PPP/C re-election rally at Bath Settlement in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Craig, who is now a candidate of the PPP/C for the 2025 General and Regional Elections, encouraged Guyanese, particularly Afro Guyanese, to vote with their “conscience” on September 1.

His rebuke comes in light of escalating cases of attacks against Afro Guyanese who have endorsed the PPP/C for the 2025 polls. Among the many attacks was one from an executive member of the main opposition APNU, David Hinds, during a broadcast of his ‘Politics 101’ programme earlier this year.

During that show, Hinds used derogatory terms, including “lick bottoms, house slaves,” and “sellouts,” to describe those Afro Guyanese, including Craig, who publicly expressed their support for the PPP/C.

Several other attacks against Afro Guyanese have come from the leadership of the APNU, including from one of its Members of Parliament (MP), Murine Philadelphia. Other young Afro Guyanese have also faced constant attacks on social media after endorsing the PPP/C.

Leader of the APNU and Presidential Candidate Aubrey Norton has refused to condemn those attacks, including from Hinds, suggesting that he (Norton) has “no say or control over what Mr. Hinds says.”

General Secretary of the PPP/C and Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo warned last month that attacks against Afro Guyanese who support the PPP/C will intensify.

“All week long, we are hearing this assault on Afro-Guyanese, and it will get worse closer to the elections,” Jagdeo said, adding that Guyanese must continue to reject the divisive and racist politics of the opposition.

Meanwhile, Craig, who is also a former executive member of the AFC, urged Guyanese to reject the APNU, AFC, and other opposition parties, which he said betrayed the people of Guyana when it held the seat of power between 2015 and 2020.

“I came from that side, and I stood in this very village and asked you to vote for the AFC. When things change, I have to be honest and tell you that the PPP/C is making progress to the extent that you must vote for them,” Craig said.

He also took a jab at key figures in the opposition, including its Prime Ministerial candidate Juretha Fernandes, whom he said has no experience to run the country.