No penalties? Then wrongdoing thrives!
I know – or am fairly certain – that on this page many years ago, I reported on this social phenomenon of fact. It occurred, and probably still does, on the island of Sealand, nestled in a nearby ocean. What phenomenon?
The brutal reality of the presence and role of narcotics trafficking. Also, naturally, the status and influence of the drugs industry’s “executives” and expert hardworking managers. Described variously as “cartel bosses, drug lords or barons”.
On the Island Republic of Sealand that state was home to quite a few “barons” as Sealand was a major transshipment site for cocaine, especially, being handled from three major “producers” in South America. Ironically, Sealand’s democratically–elected government’s leaders were dependent on the goodwill of the U.S. government. But the U.S. was actually the destination of the cocaine “exports”. (Sealand’s extensive hinterland and riverain locations were also accommodating of several cannabis sativa farms!) Sealand, in fact, actually boasted a solid thriving illegal narcotics sector.
Try as it might – and did – Sealand’s administration never seemed to overcome the narcotics producers and transshipment overseers.
When the government sought American assistance serious threats to lives emanated from powerful sources. One DEA operative was briefly kidnapped on the island. His local Sealander girlfriend was threatened. It was rumoured that elements of the police hierarchy, two government ministries and an opposition big-wig all had “connections” with the drug sector. No one dared to probe these allegations. Even law-abiding citizens feared what could happen when and after the US assistance left the Island.
Then there were the very real practical benevolence and influence and status of about three Drugs Barons with respect to Sealand realities.
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The Doctor, Sport, Media, National, Life…
It was during the immediate past three decades that the islands never-convicted Drug Barons planted their influence solidly within the island-Republic society.
Whether obvious or just suspected, it appears that at least three of the mafia-like criminals families actually “structured” influence-though-benevolence. Through charities, civil society organizations, even popular offspring and other relatives, the senior Barons established media houses, sport, cultural and entertainment, even actual charities. Thus they funnelled their dubious but welcome assistance to both Sealand’s needy and greedy. So it came about that even upright, law-abiding, religious citizens benefited from drugs money. Without actually realising it.
One story of “Drug-Baron Success” became almost legend on the island. A very needy family could not afford to send their very bright gifted daughter to medical school. A Drug Baron’s son actually fell for the girl. Easily, funding for the young lady’s attendance was arranged in full! She is now the Island’s only neurosurgeon. Not many faulted her family for worshipping the Drug Baron.
Once upon a time powerful wealthy Drug Cartels in Colombia offered to pay off that country national debt! We in Guyana must avoid Sealand’s realities. Agreed?
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Needed immediately: A Norton government
(By now regular readers of this column would appreciate that I do not recognise the fake counterfeit political entity described here as “APNU”. And that I agree with Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan that the AFC is “dead meat”). So I am referring to an Aubrey Norton PNC government.
The PNC – People’s National Congress – inherited two worthy Nortons (from Linden?). One became (an Amerindian (?)) Minister of various portfolios. The other is a qualified political scientist, law-of-the sea expert and now PNC leader!
Before he left for a recent PNC solidarity/fund raiser across the U.S.A, he promised that his party – and, by inference, “government” would reach out to other non-Afro race-groups. He just recently demanded that the PPP do right away what his government would do now. Beyond manifesto promises, I might even vote for Comrade Aubrey’s party right now.
Because he would implement the following immediately: $200,000. Cash relief; various other cost-of-living mitigation; public servants’ salary increases by 25%! Raising minimum wage and tax threshold; eliminating personal income tax for many! Generous risk allowances for certain workers; guaranteed liveable incomes for every household!
Now who wouldn’t want such a PNC government!? Comrade Aubrey just promised his General Council “world class” education and medical facilities; improved national/social cohesion; continuous “wealth creation”. Who wouldn’t vote in Comrade Norton’s party?
I was even struck by Comrade Norton’s signal declaration that “the PPP likes to rig then blame others”. Ho-ho-ho!
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When no penalties wrongdoing thrives
Our Guyana is still a society of laws. And the rule of law. Only just??
Courts of law daily dispense justice according to laws interpreted. Criminals pay penalties when convicted. From petty pilfering to choke-and-rob to high-profile corruption to traffic violations to electoral malpractice to murder, there are appropriate penalties available.
If there were no courts, censure or punishments after wrongdoing the youth would interpret that as permission to be recalcitrant and criminal. Do you think that any penalties would attend the recent desecration of the mace in parliament? The foul demeaning language used in that House? For any of the accused in cases related to the attempted 2020 election rigging? Poor us…
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Ponder, consider…
● 1) Massacre. Demolition. Destruction. Devastation. Carnage. Annihilation. Those are just a few dark descriptions when I witness Putin’s brutality by bombs against a whole country – including infants – in these modern times. Racism absent!
● 2) It took three lives for the maritime authorities to address trawler safety?
● 3) Do folks still enjoy all fools day as in my youth? (People rushed to the airport to see absent “film stars”.)
`Til next week
