Dear Editor,
Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo took the position that money going into Guyana’s New York Oil Fund could be as scarce as snow in the Sahara during a drought. How did he arrive at that rather precarious position and so rapidly? My second question was what could he have up his sleeve at this time, at this early hour? I will help my fellow citizens who know the score, but don’t want to say for fear of retribution. Yeah, it is that kind of PPP Government, and that kind of Jagdeo.
Less money in the Oil Fund means less would be there to be eyed for taking out and holding close to the bosom. What is more cherished in Guyana today by the likes of Mohamed I. Ali and Ashni K. Singh than “national development priorities?” Frankly, it is how all three words earned a terrible reputation in this city. But those Guyanese who focus on money and national development priorities miss the boat. Because when Jagdeo speaks of the specter of less cash in New York, he is signaling something else. Get ready, folks.
When Jagdeo races to the front of the line and hollers that there is the ‘probability of less money into the Oil Fund next year’ he is doing the responsible thing by informing expectant Guyanese not to expect anything. If someone said no cash grant in 2026, I recognize a student and an intellect. No cash grants because not even Jagdeo would be so ignobly irresponsible (I could have said insidiously [but didn’t]) as borrow some more billions to facilitate payouts to needy citizens. Admittedly, it is a hard decision for the PPP Government because cash grants enable some enriching self-help during the deliberately drawn out and complicated distribution process.
At least, I think so. I will have to check with Attorney General Anil Nandlall (or Speaker Manzoor Nadir) to find out if that is still allowed. That is, thinking on one’s own and for oneself. The bottom line is that Guyanese could be out of luck and out of cash relief transfusions come 2026. Note cash transfusions and not infusions. It should relay how bad things are with almost half of the Guyanese population.
Candidly, I think that Mr. Jagdeo is unhappy that Guyanese have gotten the recent $100,000 cash grant (I give him a pass on the $25,000 COVID-19 setup). So, he puts his foot down: probably less oil money in 2026. Not only that the Oil Fund will suffocate from lack of replenishing oxygen, so would pummeled Guyanese be wondering if they are living in an oil rich country, or a leadership poor one. Me, I figured out that riddle a while back.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall