See how brief I can be today. As I comment on America’s DEA.
On the twentieth anniversary of this column three years ago I wrote (all of) the following: “You have probably heard of the USA’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Established forty years ago, the DEA was meant to be the single federal authority to enforce America’s drug laws. Now in collaboration with agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) among others, the DEA combats drug smuggling and use within the USA.
“It also now co-ordinates, pursues and oversees American drug investigations around the world. How interesting must be the tasks and techniques of the DEA’s Office of Global Enforcement.
“As I leave the rest for future columns, I must remind you all that it is the same USA which still provides a most lucrative market for the illegal narcotics produced elsewhere. So the USA has to be intimate with efforts to stymie or eliminate production and use. Incidentally, do we ever hear about the amount of say marijuana and cocaine produced in the mighty USA itself?
“Oh why do we not have a DEA branch office in Georgetown? Ask Dr Roger Luncheon. How did Venezuela and Bolivia treat the DEA? Ask me. Who are five suspects the DEA knows as Guyanese Drug Barons with links to the Spanish-speaking rest of the continent? Keep reading this space.”
Amidst the Barons, the Business
Of course, the immediate preceding paragraphs can now be updated easily. The DEA “arrived” in Georgetown, formally, last week. That is not to say that the Agency from its branch in Port-of-Spain did not have Guyana on its radar. Its Office of Global Enforcement must have long had the intelligence on our Barons, our Big Business “launderers”, our political narco-enablers; our exporters and airline conspirators; and yes, our corrupt police narco-players. (I dare not accuse any judicial officers!)
But, as is probably their experience in Colombia, Mexico, Jamaica, Suriname and Afghanistan, the DEA also is aware of how intertwined with officialdom the Cocaine Executives are. Ambassador Holloway is a new kid on the Local Diplomatic Block. But he is an old hand at the intricacies of local narco-industries and all levels of their players. Just when will our own Barons’ Bubbles burst? But wait! Read and consider Len’s views on related issues which follow here-under.
The Cocaine Community’s “Culture”
It is reasonable to surmise that in any “fraternity” promoting the production and trafficking of lucrative illegal substances, there is a strong network of professionals – chemists, accountants, airline seniors, postal contacts, et al – alongside governmental, even political insiders. The challenge(s) for the DEA and all local narco-investigators will be to spawn informants whose info and intelligence can be fashioned into solid, irrefutable, prosecutorial cases.
But in the sub-culture of the Cocaine Community, wherein each individual and component know the other’s “business”; his weakness; his secrets; his status; his dependence; his very fears, who will speak? Spill the beans? When futures, status and lives are on the line?
Conjure up the meanings of these questions from the guilty to their associates, to their juniors, to their victims: “you really want to tell the DEA ‘bout we runnings bhai?”. “Who pay you wife medical expenses in Florida laas year?” “How yuh son doing at school in Canada? What more ‘e need?” “The Councillor at Pastor Pete’s Church enjoying life now. Since we set ‘e right fuh assisting with the last construction. Yuh tink e would still talk?”
“I see the Inspector sporting up with duh new so-called under-cover DEA guy from Panama. How yuh tink de Inspector leaning now?” “De girl-athlete visa up next year. She and she footballer-man safe?”
Consider the above queries and consider their implications. You get a reasonable scenario confronting the DEA. They are familiar with them. But unfamiliar with our local enforcers. Discuss…
Evidence? Proof? PPP DNA!
The single-minded, relentless Kaieteur News daily columnist explores the issue, nay the phenomenon often. What makes a most significant portion of Guyana’s Indian Guyanese demographic support and vote today’s PPP, in spite of overwhelming realities of the profound evil greed of today’s version of that Party?
Why do young “Indians”, especially, rally to Jagdeo and Priya even when they see poverty in the villages whilst Bharrat and Manickchand enjoy the luxuries of the dubious Atlantic estates? Yes, it’s the tribe. It’s wealth for that rich young exclusive crew and few. But surely it’s something else?
The acid DNA (Deoxyribonucleic) is an hereditary bit of material in humans and all other living organisms, I have read. You can trace and identify every human with DNA’s print.
Are young impressionable Indo-Guyanese blessed –or cursed – with some collective DNA spawned by the PPP? Is it the perceived “ethnic security dilemma”? Cannot the circled wagons implode in internal exploitation, slavish dependence and sustained poverty? Won’t some “Indians” vote APNU and not AFC as an alternative?
Frankly Speaking, I see the same limitations among young Afros too. Issues and policies take a far back seat to the “African” personality and leadership. Especially after Jagdeo’s emasculation of hope amongst persons of African descent. Everything was being farmed out to his own. Afros see hope now with “their own”.
Poor President. He sees even the once disillusioned PPP thinkers returning to their “kith and kin”, Personally I think race trumps reason too often. It’s ingrained. Even if not, “polarised”. Discuss…
`Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
