Serious prognostications, fun predictions
The DNA – Deoxyribonucleic Acid is the genetic identification unique to organisms. The DNA probably developed from the origins of the organism including humans. Each person has his/her own unique DNA through which identification is usually guaranteed.
As the oldest of Guyana’s political mass organisations the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – founded by Dr Cheddi Jagan and a few others – adopted certain principles of the then Soviet Union’s Communism and Socialism. When Ashton Chase deferred the PPP’s chairmanship to the newly-arrived British-trained lawyer Forbes Burnham, Cheddi was susceptible to agreeing, as Forbes had embraced Socialism as a student in England.
The shrewd ambitious Burnham played his political master-stroke after the British aborted the (suspected) “Communist” PPP government in 1953. Burnham quickly broke away from the original PPP and established his own PNC – the People’s National Congress Party. Thus began “racial politics/ethnic-influenced voting”- which survives to this day. (Burnham was to declare, strategically, his own liking for Socialism around Independence (1966). Even inserting it into our national constitution! It’s still there!) But Forbes had to rely on electoral manipulation/rigging to retain his autocracy from 1968 to death (1985).
Meanwhile for 28 years – “cheated-not-defeated – Cheddi’s PPP retained elements of its Socialist character in opposition up onto resumption of power (1992) and Cheddi’s passing (1997). So after the aberration of the Brigadier’s administration, what is the PPP today? Undoubtedly, Cheddi’s and Janet’s choice of the PYO youngster from Unity E.C. Dem – Bharrat Jagdeo – has appropriated that party by its neck. Like Putin in Russia, where he studied. The implications now (2020 to 2025)?
Comrade Jagdeo has long abandoned classic socialist ideals and methods – if they are still relevantly around. American support and capitalism know when to endorse either PPP or PNC; but Jagdeo seemed to have retained Communism’s Putin-like exclusive hold on the Party. Yet there are even PNC-ites who quietly admire Jagdeo’s strategic “politics”- from his grass-roots vote-catching techniques to international-type public relations and lobbying. See how the overwhelmingly – Indo-based business community embraces?
But has Jagdeo’s PPP sustained racism to maintain majority electoral support? Did he really have to be blatantly discrimmatory as part of today’s PPP DNA – character? Frankly speaking both of our major political behemoths naturally energise their bases to exhibit and vote “race” at election time.
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Riggers as leaders, as “honourable” Parliamentarians
When President Irfaan invited the PNC Brigadier to a Presidential powow, I regarded it, frankly speaking, as a classic piece of Bharrat-like strategy. Being statesmanlike in inviting the Overseer who simply watched on at the rigging and who defied the people’s will for five months? Give me a break! There are many other options to invite political accommodation. And stop attempting to fool folks about any amorphous “unity” or “harmony”. In any case it’s quite evident that the Brigadier’s Opposition, led by former Green House spokesman Harmon, needs to thrive on dissent – from the WCB unsolved murders, to alleged PPP fiscal “squandermania” to 1000-plus Afro dismissals the PNC can prove (?) ).
So it’s not only being supremely-matured to sit to discuss, to debate constructively, to negotiate with rigging-watchers-turned leaders and “honourable” members of Parliament. It is about abandoning the PPP DNA-induced discrimination and selfish strategies to control all and every.
Can’t they see, I repeat, that if they share oil revenues equitably on community uplift throughout Guyana; if they offer house lots, employment, education, training and health care to all – it could very well mean “bye-bye PNC”? I enquire once more: can the PPP alter its (traditional) DNA?
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Good things? Few! Good riddance 2020
In the mighty USA; in small blighted but resource rich Guyana, COVID-19 plagues and political electoral controversies whole year!
“Good riddance! Be gone 2020”, we all say. But hold! It was mankind, not the year 2020, who ushered in the Global Tragedy. Yet there were identifiable good, a few: Families came closer under lock-downs and stay-at-home quarantines; people grew food in new domestic gardens; communication technology had to be mastered by even the indifferent and on-line/computer-living will be here to stay; scientists are fashioning vaccines in record times never seen before. Yet I say be gone 2020!
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Serious prognostications, fun predictions
On the national, governmental, developmental political front, poor oil-rich Guyana will experience: (1) Trauma regarding the viability of the sugar industry – my view is that oil revenues should not be expended excessively to resuscitate the historic industry; Brazilian/Indian investors should be wooed, but sugar is under pressure globally.
(2) Divisive politics will attend the bid to penalise all those GECOM persons who aided and abetted the attempted electoral rigging; both the courts and public opinion will be tested as the election crooks attract sympathy. (3) The two A.G’s Accountant – and Attorney – Generals – will also have hell to prosecute those from the Brigadier’s government who allegedly misappropriated multiple millions! (3b) The main players behind the massive Belgium drug bust will not be identified! (4) The government’s developmental programmes and general governance will be characterized by both productive strides and numerous mis-steps as too many under-qualified Indo-loyalists are favoured. (5) Unfortunately, as usual, there will be no co-operation from the Brigadier’s Opposition Party and Leader.
On lighter notes
2021 will not welcome any marriage plans for VP Jagdeo
I will not get an electric motor car from the projected Mahaica Modernistic development
Seven new Ambassadors and High Commissioners will be Afro-Guyanese!
No one will be described as a “Sanctimonious Gangster” in 2021.
Being older than the Brigadier, I will receive my COVID $25,000 grant before mid- 2021
American TV MSNBC’s anchor part-Guyanese Joy Reid will ensure America’s Douglah Vice-President Kamala introduces Roti and Curry to the Biden White House.
Comics return to Stabroek News pages during 2021. (I plead!)
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Brief contemplations…
1) Remind me: What’s the significance of the ubiquitous (European/American) Christmas Trees?
2) A Jonathon Subrian dares to respond to daily letter-writer GHK Lall- using GHK’s prolix style! Ho-ho-ho.
3) Who will be the very first to get a Covid Vaccine in Guyana? When?
’Til next year
