– The dumb-boy and the commissioner
It happens, almost ‘naturally’, when a newly-elected government spends its first weeks in office. What does? Assessments, analyses, praise and criticism of/for that new administration’s performance so far.
Quite often too, critics conveniently ignore hostile challenges, environmental impediments inherited and local or foreign interferences. The new dudes are evaluated sometimes solely on what they promised during their campaign for office or re-election. One recent popular practice is to measure achievement, promises, failures, during “the first 100 days” in office. How silly!
So it is that when the Ali/PPP government completed its first six months, evaluations, critiques, flew thick and fast – earlier this week – from editorials, commentators, friendly ‘analysts’, and yes, political/parliamentary opposition. Here follows, my not-so-normal, comrade-in the-street observations.
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Who is this government? Performance so far?
Citizens under daily-living economic pressure and disease/public health threats and undertones of racist/political rumblings usually find it difficult to be sympathetic to governments old or new.
However I ask reasonable minds to recall the ‘birth pangs’ of this six-month government. Induced by evil, non –democratic forces, power-hungry for continued control of the corridors of power – and the wells and fields of oil, gas, and foreign assistance. (But I’ll not dwell on post December 2018 nor the five-month attempted power-grab.)
Instead I ask: who constitutes this PPP outfit managing our resources and lives? Just who are ministers? Permanent secretaries? CEO’s? the army of advisers and consultants? It would take several pages to asses them all. I leave it to you all. To identify the old-timers, experienced enough to be senior ministers or quiet advisers. Jagdeo? Ramsammy? Ramotar? Robert Persaud? Benn? Edghill? You all name four more.
Check the newcomers? Why Bharrat for Natural Resources/Oil? Who is Todd? Oneidge Walrond? Parag? Ramson? New faces with abilities to prove that youth can deliver? Six more months?
How have they done? August to January? Overcoming the legacy of a diminished treasury and discoveries of alleged sustained thefts and excesses – the guidance of comrades Jagdeo, Teixeira, Anthony, Ramotar, Ramsammy, Ashni, seen to be inspiring an indefatigable Agri Minister Zulfikar and Edghill, for starters. But we must keep an eye on the ability to fashion policy into practical effective programmes.
The honeymoon is now over. Both supporters and critics monitor now. Openness? Accountability? Use of oil revenues for all? What will they spend on sugar? Failures include the botched distribution of $25,000 COVID grant relief. (Much too long – with suspicions.) No structured press briefing by President and Prime Minister. (Name 5 responsibilities of the PM).Why no senior assistance for AG Nandlall?
The jury remains out for a short while longer I’m no PPP man. But after the PNC power-grab evil, I am hoping these dudes commit to development for all! And prove it!
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Two ‘realities’: Dummy and the commissioner
Every now and then I regret that I’m not your favourite academic-oriented analyst and commentator given to lofty quotations and prolix expressions. So I settle for working-class, sometimes creative presentations.
I was once a prize-winning short-story writer (sixties/seventies). I love ‘stories’. Last week I used a true story to depict condition in our jails.
Here are two summarized tales that are true. Locations fictionalised. Socio-cultural realities in a land with some ‘goodness’ still.
In Sealand, the 22-year-old is a mute. He could hear a bit but can’t speak. He is a needy hustler/errand boy. The Cuban 35-year-old female wants to leave Cuban permanently. Arrangements are made with ‘Dumb-boy’s’ poor relatives. He marries the Cuban. She is happily wedded and lives on in Sealand.
Sealand’s new Police Commissioner thought that his new home in the new location was safe and secure. Until one morning around four hours (4.00am) three fellows overpowered the female guard downstairs and charged into the Top Cop’s bedroom.
The commissioner was not too scared somehow, but he gathered his wife and two under-18 children and confronted the young intruders.
Lo and behold, the commissioner recognized the youngest intruder whom he knew from growing up in a community from the other end of the island. The fellows never know that the sergeant then, was now the island’s police commissioner living in a new location.
The Top Cop invited them to sit with his family for prayers and a very early breakfast. It worked. Ironically, the youngest became a security guard and the other two abandoned crimes also.
Those two tales above reflect the nuances and reality of migration and one needy soul providing redemption through citizenship. The latter speaks to redemption through a second change reflect friends, reflect.
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Just three (3) to ponder …
● 1) Why do some political leaders like to impose their names and images? The recent Brigadier/President named convention centres, ministries, and our ports. He had buses, boats and bicycles named after him.
The 6-month PPP dudes reverted to old names for all ministries. But why dismantle the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service?
That was among the first acts of the Brigadier President in May 2015. We needed a training academy to produce competent courteous government/public servants. Why destroy that? Because of Col. Lawrence Paul? What will the 28 terminated do now? This one needs clarification.
● 2) It’s now Black History Month. Boy oh boy! I suspect that young Minister Ramson will finally turn his talents and attention to matters cultural!
● 3) How are investigators coming along with apprehending the killer(s) of the West Coast Berbice lad Haresh Singh?
‘Til next week!
