Russia/Ukraine: basic points
When time is on my hands, among the numerous national issues I often put my mind to is the question of leadership.
Of course the most simple, basic definition of leadership has to do with guiding; being a principal from the beginning or front; guidance; directing and/or commanding. There are so many spheres of life and living that cry out for knowledgeable, responsible, even expert leadership. To me, frankly speaking, leadership can be both a privilege and a responsibility.
I often consider the reasons why some folks hold themselves out, even clamour for positions of leadership. Then the question of the quality of leadership presented to this current generation of Guyanese (especially 16 to 35) arises.
****
“Leaders”? Where? What? Who?
This brief narrative seeks to provoke thought about local leaders, some of whom – by accident or design – actually impact the existence of our daily lives. For better or for worse.
Very often worst!
“Leaders” exist in our homes, communities and nation. Many leaders are sometimes “natural”. Qualities and abilities occur automatically within them. Others are trained to acquire leadership skills – from educational institutions to civic organisations to private and public sector entities – and capable leaders sometimes emerge.
I won’t bore you-all (further) with the categories/types of leadership which abound in every society. For it is easy and evident to experience. Those personalities thrust into positions of leadership – or those who held themselves out or somehow were inheritors or promoted to be. Whether religious, educational, cultural, business or, yes, political and governmental. And since “politics follows us from cradle to grave”, please consider today’s “leaders” in the latter category in our dear land of Guyana today.
Consider educational qualifications, depth of personal character; genuine (?) care for the followers/the people; the models of operation and relationships regarding service and real leadership for the greater good. Now tell me: which of our political leaders here qualify as fit to follow?
****
Oil, Gas and opposition positions
As a former politically–aligned citizen, now long eschewing that nebulous status and hurtling (hopefully) near eighty, I make time still to contemplate what the Exxon oil finds have done to many younger active minds.
My first inkling of oil being within our internationally defined on-shore and oceanic boundaries was the fact that Venezuela had tons and tons of the precious hydro-carbons. Then a Canadian company, Home Oil (?) suspected that we had deposits somewhere in the Rupununi. Now finally – like every other desirable asset long–delayed here – oil and gas have appeared. The first and foremost question of course, is: will this natural Guyanese resource benefit our less-than-one-million souls?
By “opposition” in my caption, I include – besides a sometimes strident political PNC – the private media, the academic analysts and all the now-numerous civil society scrutineers.
One newspaper dedicates thousands of front-page column inches to the status of the governmental management – or mis-management blunders of the brand new oil-and-gas sector. Much of that I regard as manifestly useful. But also manifest is the political opposition’s laser-focus on somehow regaining political control to regain management of the lucrative sector.
I myself long for the improbable and the impossible: that government and opposition reps would collaborate to monitor Exxon and its subsidiaries. But the Vice President would no doubt remind me that it was the Brigadier’s coalition that signed the infamous, lop-sided agreement in the first place.
Poor us! When I read – slowly – Winston Brassington’s technicalities regarding the proposed Amaila Falls hydro-project. And when I grappled with all that is required before a new needed Demerara River Bridge is actually built, two simple factors assail me once more. Who can simplify those intricacies for us, the likely beneficiaries, to understand what is being spent on our behalf? And, secondly, will this crop of “leaders” engage experts and contractors capable of executing these mega projects? Poor us…
****
What an invaded Ukraine means
Two “excuses/explanations” up front: this was written since Tuesday afternoon last; and much much has been published to precede this herein.
But just a few basic reminders for my own regular readers hereunder.
• Ukraine had an ancient history of its own identity before being suckered into the Soviet Union.
• Putin’s expansionist invasion is the most unsettling war-like event since the end of the 1939-1945 World War. • If allowed to stand the West and Europe will forever be undermined and small sovereign states will always feel insecure. • All the “crippling” economic sanctions against Putin will hurt ordinary Russians still unable to unseat him; will not prevent him from planning more invasions. • With China’s connivance – a new world order?
(It was not a movie! I now know of cluster and vacuum bombs; Russia’s mobile war-time blood banks and crematoria. And still I think of the Ukrainian spirit of resistance and the fact that Cuba and Venezuela – where Russian armaments are in Caracas – still support Putin’s savagery.)
****
Just three (3) points to ponder…
1) Canada’s leader young Trudeau, passed emergency laws which permitted his government to seize or freeze the bank accounts of those assisting protesting truckers. How close to authoritarianism is that!?
2) When I read (in SN, Mon 28 Feb) of VP Jagdeo’s tenant, Mr. Su Zhi Rong, being in China in 2016 with then powerful Minister Joe Harmon, I decided that Mr. Su has to be shrewd. And successful?
3) The Kaieteur News daily columnist’s piece on Martin Carter (Mon Feb 28) captured my fancy. Why? Because in my mid-to-late-teens in Alberttown, Georgetown, I had reasons to “attend” the White Star Rumshop at Light and Fifth.
That rumshop’s regular customers included St Georges Cathedral’s choir, JOF Haynes and Martin Carter. On a few Saturdays I was actually privileged to sit with Mr Carter as he criticised my short-stories.
When he got “merry” he would go wherever his wet finger – the wind – directed. Singing “Where have all the flowers gone?” If not working-class, perhaps he tried.
`Til next Friday
