Dear Editor,
It is civil society that should be fearful. Its outspoken presences are the ones under constant attacks from the PPP Government and Bharrat Jagdeo’s glory guys. Instead, the attackers are the frikkened ones. Something rattles Jagdeo’s cage, they have whipped themselves into a frenzy. The recent UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) proceedings rocked Jagdeo; his people are incited, wrathful. Word is that they have proceeded beyond expressing disapproval with normal media contributions. They are taking out paid advertisements. I hope they are spending their own cash, and not what comes from Jagdeo’s war chest. It is war against civil society here.
Clearly, the UNHRC’s fusillades have created some hysteria in PPP dens. Bad news. Bad optics. Bad raps for a minister. Bad vibes in the hearts of investors. Bad conclusions about Jagdeo himself who now sees some enemies everywhere. This explains why the well-rewarded in the PPP camp (the VP’s segment) rush to do damage control: paid ads. State media. Defensive postures. I call this defending the indefensible. I repeat the following publicly.
Sections of the media are vilified. The UNHRC wanted to know about that, leading to Gail tumbling from a gale. Her close colleague generates renewed interest; the PPP Government itself is pilloried for human rights and civils rights abuses, so the guys in Jagdeo’s gutter come out firing blindly. Somebody is feeling the heat, is in a panic. Civil society mobbed. Aside: I am not a journalist, humble media contributor only. Check how much ink, how much attention, how much resources (how much love) have come my way. Jagdeo wants names. He can have mine.
Similarly, when Gail tries evading giving a straight response on media abuses, through that tidbit about ‘private business’, a word comes to mind: Discombobulated. Nobody is fooled. SN mentioned ‘disingenuous.’ When Vincent Adams could be lied about so recklessly, brazenly, it is normal by government standards. The UNHRC raised the issue of the Environmental Protection Agency, and a shovel was hurled at Vincent Adams. Out of residual regard for Mr. Kemraj Parsram, I leave things there. But a dagger was dug into the back of an honourable Guyanese uncaringly.
When the few civil society segments in Guyana – tiny but thoughtful, patriotic and not pandering to leaders – are hunted by PPP operators, then it is not surprising that the UNHRC would show a strong interest. Laughable that Jagdeo trots out that old, tired dog: the PNC is behind the UNHRC’s interest. As lame excuses go, that one from Jagdeo is the equivalent of the PNC shouting that the elections were rigged against it. In both instances, nobody but imbeciles and national idiots attach any credibility to such statements. Hence, the boys try a different tack. They take out ads. I think that that only makes matters worse.
Unsurprisingly, civil society and specific individuals have earned the undying wrath of PPP top dogs and the bad dogs in its pound. If anyone pauses to ask for what, they would be surprised. I don’t think that any in domestic civil society is any part of the political competition, harbour political ambitions. Thus, the first threats don’t exist.
Paid ads are like those Exxon billboards: they expose. They diminish and, ultimately, lead to disrepute. This is what I find delightful about Guyana: it is always good for interesting times. Somebody should remember the Chinese.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall