-The Floyd protests – A few consequences
Please note that these views were penned before GECOM’s Fit-and-Proper Iron-Lady Chairperson pronounced on Recount Results or any possible final fateful declaration.
Whatever is/was decided regarding this beleaguered nation’s governmental future and status, I’ve decided to share my own strongly-held views regarding the character mind, mentality and perceived mission of His Excellency. Why? Firstly, for 25 years (1973-97), a quarter of a century I was solid PNC. Inclusive of professional “public service” contributions and elections campaigns activity. Secondly, I actually voted His Excellency/Nagamootoo in May 2015. Not because I liked them. I was voting against Ramotar/Harper/PPP.
Now I can share this personal/political/electoral irony with you-all: A few weeks after Janet Jagan catapulted young Bharrat Jagdeo into the Presidency (1999) Guyenterprise had me do a full newspaper supplement titled “the First 100 days.” Man, I was fulsome with hope – the economist and then youngest President in the Western Hemisphere, attracting some admiration and support from even his local opponents. Alas, the rest is disappointing history.
His Excellency – an academic, officer army ideological strategist, historian, writer, publisher, politician- in waiting-or hiding – sounded superb at his first United Nations outing in 2015. Hope again swelled my breast. Alas, I should have taken more seriously all that two PNC comrades, who challenged His Excellency for the PNC Leadership at Congress-time described to me. (Of course, they’ll never repeat their disappointment publicly now. Internal wagons are (circled!).I again have to declare embarrassing disappointment.
Whether His Excellency and “his commission” and his comrade-cohorts arrange his continuity or not I’ll keep my own social distance far from his presence. For one fundamental thing: You don’t steal a people’s electoral will thus making future votes value-less!
So here are a few of my own views that I feel now inform a once-promising lender’s mentality.
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A mindset – and a mission (?)
Against the background of His Excellency’s (excellent) 1998 paper, “The alienation of African Guyanese (people),” wherein he traced the impact of “the liberation of the Africans 1838” which resulted in the demographic, economic, political and cultural changes which laid the foundation of modern Guyana”, as well as his observations regarding how history and adverse disadvantages have affected Afro-Guyanese status, I offer a few of my summarised views on what informs his actions. Towards his life’s mission.
He is Pan Africanist in life-long orientation dedicated to empowering Afro-Guyanese, using his control of State institutions and resources. Not a significant sin if implemented evenhandedly for other groups to benefit.
He is persuaded that qualified disciplined military comrades could be competent managers of various sectors of economy and society.
He probably feels, genuinely, that only his hand-picked “experts” can manage the resources of Guyana’s oil and gas petro-state. (This could be an aberration)
His touted “Decade of Development” to 2029 when he turns eighty four, fuelled in part with Petro-revenues, would result in the promised “Good life for all” with him as Guyana’s Messiah.
He feels that economic comfort for all can lead to racial cohesion. Perhaps secretly, His Excellency feels that he -not Hoyte, Reid, Green or Corbin – is the reincarnation of his deceased mentor the Kabaka, LFS Burnham.
From the above speculative points and bearing in mind His Excellency’s selective use of our Constitution, you decide what is/was his Life’s mission. For me, Frankly Speaking, as with Burnham His Excellency is another premier mind “gone bad”. A great pity.
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A coward’s reasons to be scared
I’ve been so indisciplined in terms of my current health care and general life-style that my current mid- seventies find me physically unfit.
Mentally, I’m also now a coward easily scared partly because I can’t fight or rum. I recall vividly my PNC’s propensity for levels of action against critics and opponents. Since I criticize my old party and His Excellency these days, should I now be frightened?
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Consequences of the protests
Since again I tire and can’t do the justice planned to this burning issue, I offer a summary ‘til I return to same quite soon since you-all and the world must know of the George Floyd killing by the Minneapolis (MN, USA) rogue cop and of the almost global dramatic responses, I list just a few consequences in my style.
Protests affirming that Afro-Americans’ live matter just as others do, with the BLM “movement” inspiring unprecedented nationwide and worldwide participation for more than three weeks. (Even Muslim Indonesia’s darker-skinned minorities are rising up.)
Societies worldwide are moved.
Police reforms are extant now in the USA. (But care must be taken not to invite anarchy by diluting vital policing functions always necessary.)
Reforms and legislation know that hatred would still reside in many minds as good cops are also being assaulted and murdered now.
African-descended movements worldwide are turning attention to public statues and symbols of historic anti-black wrongs. (But there is a danger of obliterating some history as even symbols of hatred hold lasting lessons.)
President Trump is aware of terrorist intrusions into legitimate protests but would open wounds and his Corona Disease response spell his end in November? You-all add more…
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Pondering – present and future
● 1) As His Excellency found in May 2015, GuySuCo will be an enormous burden for the next government. Only now the Treasury is virtually empty!
● 2) Yes it was somewhat embarrassing – His Excellency’s reason for the Recount.
● 2b) Quote from His Excellency: “CARICOM (Observers) will be the most “legitimate interlocutors!”)
● 3) Embarrassing too is the CEO Officer Lowenfield’s indictment of his own staff and his party’s Polling Day agents. For allowing PPP to rig!
● 4) What’s the WPA’s (mass) following these days?
4b) Dexamethasone! Reportedly a cheap old break-through (steroid) drug to treat very sick COVID patients. Best hope yet!
● 5) What should I expect of Retired Brigadier Phillips, if he becomes Prime Minister?
● 6) Consider: A PPP government and the Oil Companies.
● 7) What a battle!? Indian and Chinese soldiers just fought without guns! Many died.
’ Till next week!
