The Bishop Minister, The contractors, The Roads
The late great Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow once declared that “politics follows us all from the cradle to the grave”. Simple but profound.
Since politicians form and lead governments and consequent policies impact our daily living – its cost, its travails onto the cost of even dying – it is understandable that even the most a-political amongst us should always consider what “politics” does to our daily lives. That’s all context for my captioned issues today.
I’ve seen and read of Colombians carrying cocaine in baby toys, fake “pregnant” bellies, bicycle tyres, even via small submarines! But the couriers from my Guyana never fail to impress me with their own creativity, their cunning, their initiatives as they execute their insidious/treacherous illegal means of ferrying and trafficking “drugs”. Even as they earn evil income, their products can wreck young lives.
The manner and numerous “innocent” items in which our Guyanese couriers attempt to pass through airports with cannabis or cocaine have long caused me to stop taking simple goodies for my daughters overseas. (A New York customs lady, years ago, nearly seized my casareep at JFK!)
Now, a few days ago Miss Mallika was allegedly caught with cocaine concealed in frozen curry and pepperpot meals! My good lord! Where/how next? Two others have been charged along with Mallika who was detained at the airport. Frankly speaking, from the crook’s perspective, Mallika was unlucky. I suspect that several others do “get through”.
But is it not obvious that the narco industry is alive and well and thriving in this “transshipment point” that is our Guyana? Why?
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Guyana’s Narco-Big Picture
A few years ago friends cautioned me about delving into this sordid lucrative issue. Because I’m a vulnerable oldish pensioner.
Never-the-less, I ask readers interested to consider the following questions and realities.
Every week the still-honest, good police discover fields upon fields of flourishing cannabis sativa/ganja/ marijuana. Especially in Berbice. ($20M/672 pounds alone just last Saturday.) Whose lands are they? Who owns the boats, the transportation and secures the markets?
In terms of cocaine importation, packaging and forward shipping, who has the capital, wherewithal, resources to recruit the needy young lady couriers? Does the industry/trade need any big business persons? Public officials? Greedy, dishonest law enforcement operatives?
Since I’m getting a little scared, I leave the rest for your consideration. Poor Mallika???
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Guyana’s next PNC Leader
No more “comrade-leader” these days. Linden Forbes left us in 1985. Both PNC and PPP “comrades” are more capitalist-minded these days.
After last year’s five-month bed-sheet-Region 4-Mingo-Bingo electoral power-grab that failed but cost taxpayers millions – whether certain “comrades” admit it or not – does it really matter who the next PNC leader is?
Yes, every democratic society needs an opposition that’s politically “professional” and effective. Thousands – perhaps stupidly – voted for the opposition. Their leader must be savvy, fair-minded, even inclusive. Check the PNC’s likely candidate for potential leader. Inspires confidence?
Frankly speaking, any general elections in the future is for the PPP to lose. If they – the PPP leaders – allow agreed, discrimination and/or corruption to dominate the burgeoning oil-producer Guyana, then and only then, voters might consider political alternatives.
But if the PPP party and government could ever find it possible to include fair-minded, equitable, inclusive governance in its political DNA, any or all PNC leaders will remain opposition leaders! (It’s up to the PPP. Not any PNC Comrade Leader. My view. What’s yours?
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The Bishop-Minister’s massive “job”
Do you realise how massive, long-lasting and vital are the responsibilities of the senior Minister of Works in any administration? Billions of dollars in public infrastructure must be competently managed. Scores of professionals to supervise on the people’s behalf what’s being built.
Juan Edghill was consecrated a Bishop of the church same time/alongside my little brother-in-law. Now Bishop Edghill is the Minister “in charge” of the massive public works/infrastructure ministry. Is his God guiding him?
Even as I planned to comment on a specific road construction early last week, the Bishop-Minister “beat me to it”, this last Saturday. I explain…
I yearned for young investigative journalists to visit weekly the Sheriff Street-Mandela Highway now under construction for years. I want (ed) seasoned reporters to question the construction supervisors about materials, work-techniques, expertise there or needed, challenges. All this should be televised and publicised. We all have to repay the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB.)
Now Bishop-Minister Edghill has pre-empted me “beautifully” with explanations and excuses regarding this construction: overseas supply-chain, the pandemic, the weather, unexpected construction logistics. When I hear of construction challenges facing the Chinese and the locals, were all these not discovered at the very beginning?
An Emile Giddings just wrote an expert-like letter to the Guyana Times on road construction in Guyana. Find him Minister Edghill! I know you “inherited” the Highway, the airport (CJIA) and other mega projects from the Brigadier’s coalition. But you asked for the job! Will I live to see the completion of that Highway with lights and all new-features?
I’m not feeling too well these days and I can’t afford overseas for treatment.)
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Pause…To ponder…
● 1) When I was young there used to be a municipal by-law regarding obstruction of/on the city’s pavements. Still around?
● 2) I appreciate the need for some COVID curfews. But doesn’t all the usual normal mixing during the day compromise the less busy nights?
● 2b) Does the Taliban appreciate the spirited Afghan cricket team?
● 3) After Dr Cambridge’s wonderful SN series on soft/sweet-drinks, can’t I expect two more? On Guyana Sweetee and Demerara Rum?
Til next week
(allanafenty@yahoo.com)