Any of you ever heard how Forbes Burnham inveigled Barrister-at-law Desmond Hoyte to join him and the PNC in sophisticated, but activist party politics?
Hoyte was a gentleman-supporter of the Party. He did represent some “PNC accused” who allegedly did naughty deeds in defence of “the Party” in the East Coast villages during the turbulent turmoil of the early sixties. One such accused became Mr Hoyte’s driver and later my close family-friend-driver too. (See how I could have learnt things about the Hoytes? My driver-friend is still in Ann’s Grove, a village with childhood nostalgia for me.)
If any of you are interested in how Mr Hoyte – and to a lesser extent, Dr Ptolemy Reid became a reluctant politician, but willing President, ask Hammie, Robert or Malcolm.
And what about our one-year (soon) Academic Publisher-Historian-army officer-President? David Arthur Granger? From whence came this (Intellectual-strategist) Party/opposition/Coalition leader, now President? My own gut feeling, Frankly Speaking is that Mr Granger, however peripherally, admired political power and being close to it under Commander–in–Chief Hoyte, made mental notes and decisive strategies (??) to attend to such status whenever an appropriate opportunity presented itself. (That happened perhaps when the Party asked him to help find Corbin’s successor.)
Remember his family, comfortably middle-class, boasted quite a few academic achievers and military officers. Be reminded too that Comrade Granger was Burnham’s military ideologue who trotted out “GDF/army literature” and, later, many of the guidelines and protocols for today’s GDF. Authority precedes power. (Oh, but don’t ask me about the Hoyte-Joe Singh-Granger ”phenomenon.” I know not…)
Anyway, fast-forward to the early 2000’s. Mr Granger assumed full PNC “Party man” persona. Later beat out such stalwarts as Alexander, Norton and Greenidge for leadership when RHOC decided that he had done all he felt like for the “PNCR-1G.” Mr Granger manoeuvred groupings- including the Rodneyite WPA think tank – to join his PNC in an entity called/named APNU. The rest is history. So what does the President think now of his soon-to-be year-old Cabinet of Ministers? (Some are not full members.) Let me tease His Excellency.
Presidential choices,
coalition picks…
With maximum respect Mr President, I present some “informed speculation” before giving you my Quiz.
As I began this little exercise quite earlier this week, spokesman, chief-of–staff, Minister Harmon attracted all sorts of public criticism from citizens and from prominent critics who had supported your Presidential bid pre- May 2015. I’ll leave Mr Harmon alone and not ask you to “guess” anything concerning his stewardship so far.
Secondly, I know that the 2015 Valentine Day Agreement ultimately delivered to you some coalition choices you knew little about. After all, as with two lovers courting towards engagement then marriage, one never really knows all about the other until they’re living together for an extended period. Even high performance in the army might differ when authority over an entire country presents itself to some individuals. How are your personal picks performing, Sir? Do you brief, advise and caution them at some personal, private sessions at State House, apart from the Cabinet Room?
Which Minister is your gentleman Minister who hardly goes into the fields of food? Which Lady Minister has now learnt to accommodate professional staff? Even as she hurts your Presidential Head perhaps just as Joe is doing? What advice is your military man giving to the Public Security Minister and his Police Commissioner?
And Mr President, guess which Minister, actually senior ministers, whilst vigorously trying to cope with two of the more demanding ministries often mis-speak (?) One definitely is past “assertive”; he enjoys “the power.”
Guess which Cabinet member you entrusted your “Communities concept” to, tends to allow his anti- PPP fixation to overcome him too often. Sir, guess which Minister must study human nature, preferences and prejudices to inform herself as to just how much co-existence must precede harmony.
But bless her for even thinking “cohesion.”
Mr President, this citizen feels that you should convene a ministerial retreat by May 20. After one solid year guess whom I think you should promote – or drop.
Congrats on inspiring the creation and landscaping of green spaces country-wide. Now inspire the landscaping and cleanliness of minds.
Providing PPP with issues
Even though the PPP absolutely has no moral authority to criticise most things this government might do wrong; and even through that Party’s national mis-deeds do not prevent its blindly loyal supporters from voting solidly, I can’t help but remark on how that opposition either seizes upon, or creates, contention and /or controversies from issues supplied by President Granger’s folks.
Just consider: how they smile knowingly with respect to Joe, BK and Hungbo; how almost justifiably, the Czarina Gail could lament the overlong cessation of Parliament; the dithering on saying something definitive on public service salaries – whatever it is! (Nothing can be worse than pre-May 2015); of course as new administrations go, there was bound to be “talk” surrounding personnel changes and “jobs-for-the-boys-and-girls.”
My personal concern is making good (cases?) on the pledges to prosecute all those who raided the Public Purse and other State Assets. Stay tuned- and interested, it’s still our country.
ISIS wins, for now…
Just my effort to influence your interest in the American election campaigns and the scourge of the radical murderous manipulation of Islam in the interest of establishing some global Caliphate of power and domination.
I’m attracted to the arguments of those analysts who explain that the ISIS hierarchy prevails because (i) the world’s young dispossessed clamours for alternative opportunities which provide “work” and “power”; (ii) talented, disillusioned Westerners have taken advance technology to ISIS to “get back” at “systems” they abhor; (iii) schools in Yemen, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia chum out young “soldiers” with hate only in hearts and minds and (iv) when right-thinking fearful Westerners monitor Muslims and mosques in American/European enclaves, affected Muslims quietly embrace the evil ISIS in secret retaliation.
Get interested friends, ISIS might soon arrive in a neighbourhood near you.
Must I believe?
.1) Historian David Granger has mighty pieces on the African contributions and condition which I’ve just re-read. Eric has probably studied them too.
.2) Assignments for young journalists: Delve into the work of the Civil Defence Commission and investigate the structure of private Security Services and how females are treated.
‘Til next week
(allanafenty@yahoo.com)
