– Concerning “Warrior-President” Volda
Woe unto us in the middle these days. And if His Excellency isn’t yet “returned” to His Presidency by now, the survivalist onslaught might intensify.
Let me briefly explain more fully the fore-going paragraph. First some definitions. In the context of today’s Working-Man’s Column: “Survivalist” – one (or those) – determined to survive, to outlast and remain alive; it’s a basic human instinct; in our current context, those whose very mission is to sustain their politics of position and perks. (No matter your outrage you should understand their life’s objectives.)
“Ridicule”: in this context, both the noun and verb refer to mockery of, contempt for the opposing view, with all the attendant degradation and personalised attacks.
“Independent” – those citizens who, even as critics of the Ruling Parties and Incumbent Government – are not aligned to any major or significant political entity. “Independent” Candidates in other societies are politicians not aligned to the major groups. In my own context today, I mean those citizens who are a-political but retain a right to criticise and choose representatives without themselves being aligned or fiercely tribal political loyalists.
Mind you some “independent voices” have their own private interests and agendas. To which they are constitutionally entitled. They might be found in retirees with no axes to grind; civil society organisations, the church, the trade unions. Most and best of all, Independent Minds promote a constructive neutrality of principles, values and objectivity over loyal, sometimes “blind” subservience to the opportunities of power.
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Reasonably expected?
The sustained organised onslaught?
Frankly Speaking, even as I tend to tire, I won’t rehash the three-week history of our current, deliberately-manufactured post-Polling Day impasse. Even the children now at home know that normal tabulation of the Region/District 4’s votes was terminated.
Hence the consequences now – political/racial division, diversionary issues and unending litigation.
Instead, I share my quiet alarm at the vicious attacks on all those who dare(d) to voice their rejection of both GECOM’s and His Excellency’s allies’ brazen attempts at electoral thievery to ensure governmental continuity.
Some young lady “conservationist”, Ms Mahadeo, wrote that Major-General Joseph Singh’s advice makes him out to be “a simpleton!” wow! Then, from pro-government overseas surrogates to the local Young Turks and Veterans (PNC) with so much to lose, the critical, partisan, survivalist invective has been free-flowing daily – via all the media including the widely-read viral media.
These experts of abuse – whether employing academic “intellectual” analyses or outright personal attacks – utilize inappropriate history of PPP abuses, real or perceived, the alleged corrupt and “criminal” Jagdeo/ Ramotar eras, to justify, explain or excuse this month’s rigging. However accurate the Pro-Govern-ment survivalists are about a former regime’s excesses, all that, nothing can validate thievery of the People’s will.
I’ll find it hard, difficult to accept Mohamed Irfaan as my country’s Head. But this thievery will spawn another generation with no respect for law, order or cherished values. “If the country’s leaders could thief so, who is we?” (I feel I should apologise to both our senior prominent dissenters – and all overseas observers).
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Pan-Africanist empowerment…
(I still have to locate my copy of His Excellency’s seminal piece on “The Marginalization/Alienation of Afro-Guyanese which he published a few years ago.)
However, I find genuine interest in attempts to empower (economically) today’s descendants of Africans brought to be slaves in this land.
The history is known of the first freed slaves establishment of a Village Structure and their attempts at large-scale agriculture. These latter efforts were frustrated, deliberately, by the Plantation Owners who were peeved at Emancipation and hoped that the Africans would return to the plantation/estates. (Did Africans first plant rice at Soesdyke?)
So Afro-folks turned to trades, professions, government employment and uniforms. The Indian Immigrants gladly “succeeded” them in planting, owning, embracing land. The rest is history. Social history now shows how “Indians” exploited agriculture to become their base for entry into those same professions, commerce and industry. It is alleged that friendly governments (1957-64, 1992-2015) lovingly assisted this group to own and control the “economy”. How much truth is there?
Frankly Speaking, it is my view that the recent generations of Afro-Guyanese were reluctant to return to the land because it wasn’t readily available anymore, the returns were/are “slow” and the tradition was long abandoned.
Now there is some re-awakening by Afro-folks about the lasting advantages of agriculture. Employment economically can “grow” from providing food for Guyana and elsewhere. Agro-industries (as at Wales WBD now) can support forays into other enterprises. As “others” have long realized.
So enter Pan-Africanist His Excellency. He is quietly spearheading efforts to encourage Afro-Youth to become modern-day agriculturalists and business-minded. Land, loans, technical assistance are being organised.
As I develop this issue I’ll name Mr Benn’s Lands and Surveys Commission, LEN at Linden, Burnham Foundation, ACDA and the “African-decade” enablers who hope to inspire “Black business”. To join “others” in the Petro-State that will still need food and manufacturing. (One Fenty-Hint: provide young Afros with a reasonable monthly stipend until their farm crops become profitable.)
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What!? Warrior President Volda? How?
Be generous in imagination. Or reality about the bullyism of local politics. The People’s National Congress (PNC) continues control of government. His Excellency becomes unwell. Or just retires for pride’s sake. I give you President Volda Lawrence. What?
The lady has declared that she is no survivor. But a warrior! (Over the past three months she knocked “bing-bang-boom-out” Miner-Minister Simona off the PNC Warrior-Pedestal.) Now follow me: (1) the lady is a pivotal Minister of Health, (2) she recently out-manoeuvred Joe and Basil to become PNC Comrade “Chairman” – the Second-in-Command after Party Leader, His Excellency. (3) Beloved by her loyalists, the tape recording confirms she’ll give them jobs first! Merit or no merit. (Who should be annoyed?) (4) She instructed her “strong young PNC men” to guard the Ballot Boxes on Polling Day’s “Night Shift”. (5) She “created” Party “Counting Agents” on the spot on Elec-tion Day then (6) signed off documents at the Region Four RO’s Office during the dispute.
Now Comrade Warrior Volda is armed with widespread authority from an old, old Public Health Ordi-nance to fight the Corona Virus. And whoever, whatever else! (She can “remove, disinfect, destroy” goods, personal effects, building if she feels the owners are large-scale virus carriers, plus…)
So regard, respect comrade Volda! You never know…
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Out of many, a few to ponder…
● 1) Can’t sanctions be specific to errant leaders? Sparing the vulnerable poor? (No American Medical Visa for the Minister! Hoho.)
● 2) There were critics during the 23 years. But there was no theft of votes. The difference now?
● 3) List 3 reasons His Excellency found GECOM’s Justice Claudette to be “fit, proper”, perfect!
● 4) Is Odinga still with the PPP? And Tony V?
● 5) The Old and New “Opposition” “stormed, invaded, kicked down” the Region 4 RO’s Office. Why? Such emotive usage.
● 6) What? Never! A Senior Editor-in-Chief suspended? On leave. Man.
`Til next week! (allanafenty@yahoo.com)
