On civil defiance and lawlessness
I’ve decided that this contribution will be one of the shorter man-in-the-street columns that this Friday feature represents. Why?
Because being the last one for this year – as it proceeds to its 29th year next month end – I didn’t want to be so overtly political in content. Then again, will as many folks actually take to lots of reading today? As they bid individual and collective goodbyes to the Guyanese 2021 of the coronavirus, the floods and fires? Hence today’s brevity.
Well today also marks seventeen months since the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) returned to office last year August as the Americans became ultimately disgusted with an evil but transparent power grab. Seventeen months constitute enough time for all those qualified – along with ordinary interested voters and all citizens – to deliver their assessments, analyses, conclusions regarding the Ali/Jagdeo administration so far.
Of course, as is my wont, I will not – or cannot – be as academic and scientific as others in any commentary on the PPP’s 17-month performance so far. So for me, frankly speaking I’ve stacked up what I consider as relative successes and positives alongside some obvious glaring negatives, missteps and blunders. But first some important context.
****
Which PPP? What purpose? Mission? Vision?
It is for me an “incidental co-incidence” that the just-concluded election of comrade Aubrey Norton as the leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC) has thrown spotlights on that party’s post-2020 ugliness, its opportunity for redemption, reformation and possibly outright renewal; though I seriously doubt that transformational political genes reside in that entity’s being. (Hope I’m so wrong!)
New leader comrade Norton must seek to control popular militancy as he embraces a “heritage” from the old stagers now reluctantly retiring from his party’s hierarchy. Norton’s stage, his leadership acumen will now attract international interest and scrutiny. Personally, I await his handling of the counterfeit entity known as “APNU” with no constituency, as well as how he treats with the ambitious but nonentity dead meat known as “AFC”.
But I actually digressed as it was/is the PPP I must consider. What or which PPP is this one in 2020-2022?
People, leaders, brains and minds determine the status, class or failure of political entities. No need for me to repeat the glorious history of the PPP here. Suffice to remark that I’ve been reading Rohee and Ramotar, as well as both their supporters and critics, regarding the changed, even transformative, character of today’s PPP.
Who expects comrades Irfaan, Jagdeo and the newer, younger ambitious party leaders, influencers, government ministers to be today’s socialists?
My reasonable expectation, even at my very “matured age”, includes the hope that the PPP allows its government to manage our political economy, our social and developmental futures professionally and equitably. Is that simple but pivotal expectation in their – the PPP’s – political DNA?
Can’t they realize that if and when they govern in the interest of all, both oil and gas revenues and supportive international forces, will combine to keep the opposition as opposition for a long time? Norton or no Norton? But like the PNC the PPP might not transform itself truly by 2022. Just hope that (again) I’m wrong!
****
Some 2022 (political) prognostications
Instead of simply forecasting, foretelling, prediction, how I love prog-nos-ti-ca-tion! Do you? Just a few: • Comrade Norton, mindful of the international influencers, will tone down his rhetoric and aggression. • His Council of Elders will beg him to court diaspora support and advice. • Officer Harmon will find a way to “retire” from being parliamentary Opposition Leader.
•Dr Jagdeo will caution his party’s young Turks not to behave like PNC surrogates on the social/viral media. (Y’all doubt that?) • The PPP’s Brigadier Prime Minister will be allowed some more scope; more than the old ever–faithful Sam • Both Shuman and Jonas will make certain strategic moves. • Nigel Hughes will pay much more attention to local law and America’s Texas than to politics here. • Four unmarried parliamentarians will get married in 22. But not Dr Jagdeo! What are your predictions?
****
The Season’s lawlessness…
Yes I do tire of these remarks these days. It’s only that a joyful but sacred festival like Christmas is used as an excuse for civic defiance and lawlessness. Regulations are ignored even though they exist for the common good. Laws are violated or relaxed.
The pandemic Christmas is made for the poor to “mek a hustle and living”. The young sees vendors allowed to breach all laws. What then is the effect on them? “Granger and de PNC din move we, so who is dis govament to try?”
Poor old me…
****
Ponder, imagine…
1) Indeed! Couldn’t the government send the Natural Resource Fund Bill to a bipartisan select committee? Why not?
2) Next week I’ll ask comrade Aubrey this: who actually “installed” the Ali-Jagdeo-Phillips government?
3) Revolutionary? Earlier this month the High Court ordered the City Council to remove vendors from in front of Kirpalani’s store! More later?
4) It is alleged that one dude – just one – had 38 lbs of cocaine on the “West Side”. Wow!! Ten (10) questions next Friday.
`Til next year
