-After one year, Penny believes her PNC
Look, I promise (myself) to leave this sensitive national issue, of thievery by executives in public offices, to others for a long while.
But if even half of what the “new” seven-month PPP government is reporting about (alleged) irregular financial practices; manipulation, appropriation and mis-appropriation of funds from the taxpayers’ treasury; alleged corrupt conflict-of-interest dealings regarding huge contracts and even illegal allocation of resources like state lands; if even half of those allegations can be proven true in courts-of-law we, the economically-challenged voter-citizens could be excused for not trusting those who seek votes.
Of course, the “democratic” judicial nature of our rule of law is often favourable to many actually guilty of theft from the public purse. Technicalities of the specific procedures and law, evidentiary short-comings make convicting those guilty of financial malfeasance particularly difficult. After all when top officials, responsible for policy and programmes, succumb to planning theft and significant stealing, good accountants and better attorneys are employed during and after. (But the court of public opinion frequently knows what the court of law needs proof of)
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The “Thief,” The partner, The bag…
My folkloric, creole proverb in the main caption is actually one of my favourites (of hundreds). A thief who usually “works” with a partner does not like seeing that buddy with a bag when he the original partner was left out; wasn’t in on a certain “job” he would enquire as to what the bag contains. Jealousy and bad blood could develop when thieves fall out.
Now combine my “thief man” proverb with another expression which advises that “Good Tief man mek good Security Guard/Good Watchman”.
The message is clear: those who are expert or experienced regarding theft would know where to look, where to uncover, hopefully where and how to prevent same. All of our millions spent by the Brigadier-President after May 2015 on court cases, Commissions of Inquiry, SOCU, SARA, even CANU, resulted in no “catching” of alleged PPP 1992-2015 wrong-doers. Cases weak? Prosecution poor?
Now the Auditor-General reports, ministerial accounts, other investigators are revealing alleged financial and public resource mischief by immediate past incumbents. Won’t they go free too? Even if ever prosecuted? But why do financially-comfortable senior public or corporate officials find it necessary to steal?
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Why do “Big ones” become so?
This is where you, Dear Reader, get to consider me naïve – of “unaffected simple-mindedness.” Or perhaps not. I have my own answers to the questions I present here but I don’t trust them. I need your assistance. Indeed.
Why would 2015-2020 ministers and/or current Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Com-missioners, “Heads” succumb to thievery? Directly or, more likely, indirectly? Why? Why? Human nature exploits opportunity? Status? Authority? Do comfortable monthly rewards – salaries, allowances, benefits – inspire a liking for even more? For selves, families, dependents, supporters? Do well-paid executives become infected by greed? Please assist friends. Even as you now know why I remain needy.
Penny still believes, needs her PNC
Comrade Penelope/Penny has been a die-hard People’s National Congress (PNC) member for some forty years now. She was briefly once a village Coun-cillor in a worthy NDC. As with her parents and all family before her all she knew was “PNC”. No real “race”. Just her own! Her own hero leaders. Even unfulfilled promises couldn’t make her “like” or vote any other party. Comrade Penny was politically exclusive. Tribal. But not by such a description.
She knew/knows deep down that from March 02, 2020, to March 14, 2020, and beyond, the old ’68 to ’85 spectre of PNC rigging was re-incarnated. She knew that all parties’ Statements-of-polls (SOP’s) indicated the true results by ten on Election Night last March.
Her Christian Congregationalist Conscience could not accommodate any political integrity- today one year afterwards, she needs to “believe” that her party won one year ago.
But just last week her only overseas-based child – her 21 year old daughter – kept asking her: “Mommy just what have those people done for you over all your PNC years? Remember who assisted me to get to Florida to study.” Comrade Penny is trying examine what’s left of her partisan political tribal soul.
Won which elections? How? With Mingo’s spreadsheet and Bed Sheets? Collaborative bullyism from, Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo, Alexander, Corbin, Trotman, Volda and her young-Turk attorneys all now comfortable?
She’ll love her PNC forever. Win, lose or draw. She intends to ask the Brigadier a somewhat strange but significant question: If foreign elements ensured that the PPP assumed office last August, will they ensure that the PPP Government be equitable with the oil revenues?
Deep down, Comrade Penny isn’t fond of her Party’s new “leaders’. Poor Comrade Penny.
Think About this…
● 1) “New” young female PPP minister: “the rigging in March 2020 was like an attempted rape of a nation.”
● 2) Anil Nandlall: “There were private transactions for public lands.” (So they’ll be watching y’all now comrade A.G.)
● 3) For urgent consideration: Did not Brazil manufacture its own HIV treatments? And India’s Viagra is Kamagra? Can’t Cuba or Africa manufacture COVID Vaccines?
’Til next week
