– Exploiting `compromise’ strategically
`Officer’ Lowenfield: The man in command
I know I would have quoted His Excellency’s Under-rated “Quip” – “Because I en leafing fuh juss now” – many columns ago. But because I love and respect creolese as part of our very Guyanese being and because I recognised the potent and portent nature of His Excellency’s lapse into Creole, I touch again on the implications inherent in the Leader’s “joke”. From my own strongly-held perspective, of course. Ok! Repetition for emphasis!
You see, at the beginning of June – say fourteen (14) weeks ago. His Excellency toured an East Bank Demerara Housing Project accompanied and guided by another of his former GDF Officers, Comrade Lelon Saul, Head of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH and PA), (I like something about that CEO army fellow…) When on the following Friday, I sought to caution and remind critics and all citizens of His Excellency’s real Presidential Power, I wrote the following.
“…provided for by Article 89 of the constitution, His Excellency is the State’s Supreme Executive Authority and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Services of the Republic”.
I further reminded that this former Army Brigadier-President had adumbrated his concept of “Total National Defence” which strategy includes putting-down “internal upheavals”. Do you have to be academic analyst or brilliant to appreciate how that could be operationalised during Election Campaign Season? Is not His Excellency also Minister of Defence? Ho-ho!
But back to His Excellency’s early June meaningful “quip”, first reported by First Vice-President Nagamootoo’s State-friendly Chronicle. It was made after a pledge by him to “end homelessness in Guyana” as he was sure of re-election – “cause I en leffing fuh jus now.” Now “abolishing” homelessness in any society is a mighty manifesto-type promise which might not be that impossible if thousands don’t return to the homeland after First Oil. But His Excellency knows that fulfilment of his pledge will need way beyond 2020. Hence his declaration in Creole.
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The not-“juss-now” implications
Not intending to bore some of you with repetition, I never-the-less re-outline the now obvious intentions of His Excellency. Even now ANUG Leader, Ralph Harinarayen Ramkarran, seems to have “given up” and given in regarding His Excellency’s seeming triumph of delay and benign dictatorial mannerisms.
No political analyst or opposition leader is necessary to “educate” normal, reasonably-intelligent, fair-open minded citizens to recognize His Excellency’s excesses: Constitutional and Judicial eye-pass, creating GECOM as now a constitutional-usurper, perfecting his political king maker potential, etc.
When he was criticised as an aloof President-Manager during his first 2015-2016 year, His Excellency was quietly, smilingly plotting his image as a non-micro manager of governance, He had to manoeuvre the settling-in and “comfort” of his Coalition AFC Vice Presi-dents, Ministers and other AFC Executive Aspirants. November 2018 proved to all the toothlessness of the AFC. Accords or no agreements, His Excellency now really deals all the Cards.
I’m not being facetious but when I noticed His Excellency’s new massive green wall around his renovated Presidency Office, his repainting – from white to green – of the Heritage State House residence, his announcement of a ten-year Development Plan I too understood that His Excellency was not “leffing fuh Juss now’!
Victory whenever by any or all means necessary! If I disapprove of his autocracy, who is left to “enjoy” my support? Oh well, it looks like I’ll stay away and abide by “the will of the people”. All the other voters- tribal and all.
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Compromise my eye!
Indeed, some form of compromise is needed – often necessary – in numerous life situations in this give and take world. But Frankly Speaking, to me shrewd and cunning persons or groups propose “compromise” merely to “negotiate” settlements – especially concessions – when they had little ground to stand on in the first place. The disadvantaged party gives up something it shouldn’t but does so just for “peace”, for “moving-on”.
Comrade Hamilton Green the veteran former PNC General Secretary, Prime Minister and Georgetown Mayor-for–life recently engaged Ms Ryhaan Shah columnist and Indian Rights Activist, regarding forms of “compromise”. Wily politicians know very well that there can be no negotiated compromise with the Rule of Law or the unambiguous provisions of our Constitution.
Further, if one party is on solid legal ground, logical, morally correct, rigidly in sync with the letter and spirit of a Constitution or Statute, there is no need for any “compromise.” When compromise is weaponised for delay and bullyism, so-called “negotiated settlements” earn unnecessary opportunistic concessions. Just observe the goings-on at the highest levels right now. Discuss….
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Hail GECOM Officer Lowenfield!
The eminent female chairperson of GECOM, retired Judge Singh, obviously attracts maximum public and political attention at this time.
But my own perspectives on the conduct of elections – recent and future – and electoral mal-practices, force me to concentrate on the pivotal GECOM CEO, former GDF Officer K. Lowenfield Why? Because, appointed there by one-time Chairman retired Major-General Joseph Ganesh Singh, Lowenfield controls the GECOM Secretariat and every operative thereunder. Lowenfield and his senior comrade appoints those ten crucial returning officers.
You are hearing now what CEO Lowenfield is proclaiming. His tested procedures can lessen electoral rigging! Hall CEO Lowenfield yeah!
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Brief Ponderings…
● 1) Why did His Excellency decide that retired Justice Singh is fit, proper and
capable to head GECOM? Three reasons…
● 2) Jamaica is being asked to assist officer Lowenfield’s Secretariat right now.
● 3) Name five (5) current key strategic leaders in our emerging Oil and Gas
sector.
’Til next week!
