I’m hoping that I should be thankful for the young amongst us. Because I’m trusting that – either on their very own, or with guidance from elders – they become aware of national issues even as they prepare themselves for a very adult existence in a very challenged society. (Or for migration?)
I mention the above, because Frankly Speaking, I tire with regard to the national issues that are born from our society’s everyday life and body politic. Today therefore I call on young nimble-minded journalists, young opposition activists and Parliamentarians, fair-minded attorneys-at-law and patriots all, to keep focus and critical constructive scrutiny on significant matters related to the management of our resources, to justice, law and order and to governance by those who sit in our Assembly, our government ministries and executive boardrooms.
I plead that 2015 begins a youthful movement which will focus consistently in a respectful but public manner, on the “business” of managing Guyana for the good of all.
In recalling a few weeks of promising social initiatives by Mr. Urling’s Blue Caps, I offer one special paragraph on civil society as manifested in our land.
An accomplished Guyanese International Corporate Lawyer still has the ambition of marshalling and empowering Guyana’s genuine NGO’s and CSO’s into a significant collective voice to supplement those elected to fill our political spaces. But a government which routinely ignores, if not violates, the Constitution’s Civil–Society Article 13, has unleashed mischievous tirades against his character. Interestingly, not many NGO’s have come forward in his defence, publicly. I call on a furtive Civil–Society community to use 2015 to confront executive lawlessness and bullyism with constructive offers of “meaningful participation”. Let’s see a government ignore an organized society because of its wanting to be re–elected.
Issues: eyes, ears and minds
So we are all too familiar with how issues pleading for just and fair remedy, disappear from attention. Evil, especially, fades away in this society. The wicked use time, apathy and corrupt bribery to triumph over justice – justice especially for the poor and dispossessed. A sensational murder soon dissipates. A huge theft is made forgotten.
Constitutional/electoral reforms are merely promised. I beg the youth, the righteous and yes, Civil Society, not to let these undermentioned few fade – or disappear.
Recall the case of the Muslim Teacher of Sophia accused of sexual assault of young boys? What’s happening there? Expert Medical Witness on his behalf? Who’s on behalf of the alleged victims? Recall court cases with respect to pharmaceuticals, for the Public Health sector? The Guysuco Land at Leonora? The Americans will take care of the Guyana–born accused but what of the private hangar at Timehri?
What next for wasted millions on the fibre optic cable? The Skeldon debacle and its promised ancillary project? Who sent the gold to Curacao? A small miner? Does the Legal Practitioners Act protect the Attorney–General from any sanction? (See how the recorded invective is fading…?)
Just a partial plateful to keep investigative journalists busy and a weary Guyanese population awake…
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Power, audacity, arrogance…
This can never be a boast; merely a belief: that many who read this column might not read the Sunday Stabroek editorials. I can do no better than to quote this past Sunday’s editorial which outlines possible tactics by a regime bent on retaining extra-parliamentary authority as it uses various resources prepping for elections.
Consider the following: “Bearing in mind that according to the constitution a budget would have to be laid in the National Assembly within the time-frame of ninety days from the commencement of the financial year, one hypothesis was that the President would dissolve Parliament just before or during April 2015, and set the date for elections at the end of three months thereafter. (Under the constitution he has three months in which to call a general election following a dissolution,) Thereafter, the government would have a further month before the National Assembly would be required to meet, taking us potentially into August-September.
Theoretically, of course, after the passage of six months it is possible to prorogue Parliament again, although it is difficult (albeit not entirely inconceivable) to see the President and the government following this route. Apart from anything else, the problem with the time-frame of the budget would arise.
It might be noted that even if an election date were to be made public in the not-too-distant future, sufficient time would have to be allowed Gecom to do whatever was necessary – such as printing ballot papers abroad, etc – to comply with legal requirements and manage a poll efficiently.”
Audacity can have to do with daring, boldness and yes, insolence! This here refers to the propagandistic insolence, arrogance of the PPP.
I’m perhaps secretly admiring the PPP situation/strategy room boys preparing their election campaign mischief. But even the old propagandist in me finds their audacity in questioning APNU’S “military” personalities without merit.
Yes the uninformed “susceptibles” may fall for the analysis of foreign political scientists and for the exploitation of our military by Burnham.
However, today’s APNU won’t dare to utilize military might to subdue an electorate they would want to thank. And the foreign powers still do keep a strategic eye on things.
I must return to this issue as the PPP “strategists” plant their fear factor in innocent minds. By the way Mr Granger, you must respond appropriately to these techniques. Or not at all! More from me later.
Ponder
*1) I’ll forever promote the concept and Republican Festival of Mashramani. I already am worried over this year’s “calypsoes”! Next Friday let’s discuss how Mashramani will be used this (election) year. How, why should we “celebrate”?
*2) What can TUC/FITUG do to guarantee adherence by all employers to Collective Bargaining Agreements?
*3) What happens to serving or former members of the GDF and GPF when they are sent to prison? In the jails?
Til next week
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
