Why the Brigadier is aggrieved…
When actual polling ended on that Monday evening in March last year Elections Commission Chair, former Judge Singh, declared the 2020 electoral enterprise a pleasing and resounding success.
She was relatively accurate until the counting of ballots began and proceeded to culminate with the Region Four tabulations. The PNC/APNU/AFC power-grab featured rabid “miscounts” by PNC-friendly Gecom officials. Replete with a big old bedsheet as a visual prop! The reps of the international community found it almost unbelievable that electoral theft was attempted before their open eyes and presence.
During and after the “counts” – including the Caricom recount agreed to by the PNC Brigadier– Leader PNC “comrades” abused Caribbean leaders like Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley, the Jamaicans, the Americans, the EU, Canadians and even a former leader from Senegal whom I admired. Trinidad’s Keith Rowley predicted that the goings–on engineered by anguished losers “wouldn’t end well”
But after five months of litigation costing millions; after a final Caricom recount, the world, led by America’s Pompeo, prevailed upon the Brigadier’s government that worse might befall the PNC folks, besides visa withdrawals, if the will of the majority was not respected. The Brigadier’s government relented by August 01/Emancipation day 2020
Now why have I rehashed all the obvious?
To make my own brief but significant concern regarding the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) response (s) to the international community’s solidarity last year.
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Party priorities without gratitude
This week’s Sunday Stabroek carried an interesting bit of reportage and analysis illustrating the Machiavellian Burnham’s responses to the American CIA assistance he accepted to assist in Cheddi Jagan’s electoral demise in 1964.
The piece was co-incidental with my thought processes assessing how the Ali-Jagdeo victors are showing regard for international support justifiably garnered last year. My simple question for myself and all citizens interested is: is the 15/16-month government showing any gratitude? (Does it have to?)
Put another way, my wonderment is grappling to process whether the PPP, as it goes about consolidating authority, then power, is conscious about how Caricom and the wider geo-political world is assessing its stewardship since their 2020 solidarity extended.
Naturally, the Ali-Jagdeo administration must have its national developmental agenda to implement. The political and societal opposition has now “struck form” in highlighting PPP blunders, incompetence and discrimination – real and/or perceived.
That’s their function though I often wonder if the opposition would find it possible to assist sometimes.
Again I wonder: Does this PPP care about international scrutiny? Won’t support be needed in the future? (Does Russia help more than the west?)
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The 55-year old blight! Who’s responsible?
I’ve developed a periodic habit of describing my lovely native land I’ve never ever left as this “big, beautiful blighted land” why? Because there has to be some (obvious) decades-long blight imposed on this country. Especially by our “rulers”- the non-elected and elected political managers of our economies and lives.
So it all began post-1953? Okay, why has it never left? This “impairing, frustrating influence; this deteriorated, stagnated condition”?
Unfortunately for me, I’m no trained nor qualified political scientist or academic analyst. My current conclusions assessments and opinions are gleaned from decades of (PNC) political and professional involvement. My simple take? It’s that my old PNC – not even utilising its sustained election rigging – late sixties through eighties – to win over the more race-oriented PPP, and the independent electorate – has to be the villain of the piece.
The Jagdeo tenure did precipitate dubious, corruption-friendly characteristics but the opposition was relentless with undermining the greater good. And was the Brigadier’s 2015-2020 outfit any better? There is enough blame to go around for the Guyana blight? How can it end?
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The Brigadier’s hurt, extreme grief!
One can’t fully comment on or discuss court cases currently engaging attention.
But a public media report recently outlined why PNC Leader, former Brigadier Arthur Granger, has taken Kaieteur News to legal arbitration because of criticisms of the Brigadier the paper published penned by matured observer Christopher Nascimento.
Now even I am feeling for the Brigadier. Why? Because he is claiming that as a result of Nascimento’s published words, he, the Brigadier retired, has had his personal and professional reputation and standing…irreparably and severely damaged; lowered in the estimation of right-thinking members of society”.
Further the retired army Brigadier is claiming that “he-and his (entire) family have suffered and continue to suffer, financial injury, constant grave distress, humiliation, embarrassment, indignity, pain and suffering!” (“Irreparably” means cannot ever be repaired!)
Ouch! You see what critical words can (allegedly) do to someone’s existence? To the former GDF leader and household in this case? I know not if the judge will agree. But all letter writers, columnists and I must be careful!
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Read, digest, ponder…
● 1) Our Guyana blight leaves us with “mini-buses” only; few Olympic swimming pools; substandard race-courses; decades-long electrical blackouts. Shantytown market places; under-equipped regional hospitals; improper drainage; a dissatisfied public service and mediocre municipalities. Too negative? Not accurate? Okay, we are not always “polarised”. That’s “positive”?
● 2) Mark Archer, old PNC member, retired GDF officer and Granger-friendly confidante just described what a new (young) PNC leader should be. And concluded with these words: “unfortunately such a candidate has not yet entered the race for leader (!)”
Wow! What does Joe think of such? Pity Mark himself lives in Georgia, USA – as a “dual citizen”. He could have “helped out”. Ho-ho-ho
● 3) Remember Ministers Jagdeo and Singh: please assist public service pensioners with increases too.
● 4. Whatever happened to our once champion long-distance star – Cleveland Forde?
Retired?
Til next week!
