Murder in Guyana, killings in New York
I speak – and write here – with more than reasonable authority. Because I was appointed to act as the Chief Information Officer (CI0) in the then Ministry of Information for several years from 1979.
My PNC government did what governments did during and after its authoritarian time: Use (d) the state-funded Guyana Chronicle as a premier party/ Government news and information organ!
As CI0 I once experienced a feisty female PNC Information Minister physically lounging in the chair of the Chronicle’s late Editor-in- Chief Courtney Gibson and “suggesting” to him the content and captions for the next day’s ‘paper! (Others used the telephone.)
The PPP administration (1992-2015) even as a waning Socialist-oriented regime, was never shy to use and misuse that state-paper for its own brand of development propaganda. And even the recent Brigadier-President’s Ministry not-so-subtly utilised the poor Chronicle to spread its word. (Though, to its credit (?) the Brigadier’s soldier-buddy from that same information outfit edited and produced the PNC’s New Nation!)
Frankly Speaking, I support every government‘s right – even a duty and responsibility – to inform the populace about achievements promised during election campaigns. However administrations should never seek to control editorially when and how government news should be published. And naturally a few papers often abandon objective professional neutrality to preach governmental sermons in subtle bids to lobby readers’ support. Freedom of the press? The right to (partisan) information?
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Public developments, private cheating (?)
A Government’s national development programmes do not allow trickle down to benefit its people’s personal daily needs. Whether those needs include employment, appropriate legitimate rewards, and entitlements from the state – or necessary, expected and routine services.
Recent Chronicle headlines and captions trumpet current or potential developments that suggest pure happiness and success here to the absence of any need or poverty. Check this short, partial list.
Guyana-Brazil to enhance diversify agricultural trade (Road link to proceed); $1.7B to upgrade urban, miscellaneous roads; Hubu Aqua Farms to rear special premium shrimps, prawns; $10M drug bond for Bartica Hospital; $3M poultry farm to advance Karrau’s (Region 7) economic development; New wells providing potable water; Manganese production resumes and Mega-goldmining firms coming soon; Airport for Berbice; New police stations being built in rural communities; Houses allocated to young Linden professionals (1000 Homes project.) Notice I wilfully omitted any oil-and-gas mention.
The above surely indicates the trending government success-story from just that minimal sampling. But PNC opposition and “independent” professional critics easily find rampant misinformation, false expectations and lop-sided benefits in those quoted official releases and announcements. Go beyond cash grants and housing assistance the opposition demands. It’s easy to criticise from without. So there are two things I wish for: during and after each mega project or regional/ district development, assess just who benefited; and how I wish there was a mechanism, approved by government, whereby critical commentators, opposition members, even newspaper editorial writers could enjoy actual executive consultancies with government- any government. What a successful world that could be!
In terms of alleged corrupt practices by incumbent government officials, I’d like to see – besides the National Assembly and its several bi-partisan Parliamentary Committees – a kind of Ombudsman Office to swiftly investigate alleged official wrongdoing at the highest levels. Accusers must submit verifiable evidence – “in prosecution”.
(If a sitting Minister’s distant relative or childhood buddy establishes an Oil-and-Gas facility how should that minister be judged? If at all?)
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Murders and killings – here and afar
During my twenties – to – fifties, I swore that our judicial system (seemingly) favoured the obviously- guilty accused and crooks. Now, in my late seventies, frankly speaking, that unfortunate perspective is returning. Haunting my sense of judicial fair play.
Who killed 22 year old Dewaun Anthony Baksh? I ask because a few days ago two men were acquitted over the killing of the young fellow of E.B. Essequibo. The two accused were on remand for six years. They were among a group involved in a violent altercation with Dewaun on New Year’s Day 2016. The two were singled out as being responsible for the murder. But they were freed on both counts of murder and/or manslaughter.
So who stabbed the fellow to death? Why were the two identified? Poor police work? Poorer prosecution? Either Dewaun’s loved relative or just a citizen interested in justice … how would you feel about the verdict?
Over in New York, NY, USA last Saturday a Caucasian youth – “White” and eighteen – shot ten persons dead. Most were innocent African-Americans. That same evening he was swiftly charged with committing 10 murders.
Of course it was deemed a mass killing with (obvious) “racially- motivated violent extremism”.
What strikes me is the emphasis being placed on White Supremacy motivation as the young killer believed in some “Great Replacement Theory” wherein Whites are being marginalised. Hate crimes are a big thing in the US. Federal business! If a non-White had used the weapons ten persons would still be dead. Right? But, I suppose, over there the race of certain killers matters.
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Ponder what matters…
1) Former PPP Minister – also a former PNC ideologue – Henry Jeffrey, just waded into former PPP big-wig Ralph Ramkarran – now leader of another party. Ho-ho.
2) “Premium” prawns will be reared to supply the (foreign?) workers meals on the foreign oil rigs. Yummy!
3) I support Vincent’s call for biometric identification along with a New Voters List. In time for 2025? After all that, who will “win”?
4) Explain to me further: Illegal squatters at Amelia’s Ward were warned, given notice to move; they refused and were removed; then protests against discrimination; they get house lots before others?
4b) How great for us to be hosting a Region-wide Agricultural/Food Security Conference/Exhibition – oil or no oil!
5) Coming soon: How to bring back Georgetown.
`Til next week!
