Politics and the Amaila Project The issue regarding the constant power outages across Guyana and their huge negative impact on both individuals and businesses is once again dominating the headlines. In spite of assurances from the power company’s new Chief Executive Officer that blackouts would be a thing of the past, over the past couple of days, prolonged periods of blackout have actually increased across the country. Consumers have written several letters to this newspaper, expressing their disgust over the present situation; it’s as if they have reached breaking point.…
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A most unfortunate incident: Lessons to be leant
The tragic death of seven-year-old Ciara Benjamin on Saturday last is perhaps the most-talked-about issue in Guyana and the wider Diaspora these past few days. Many persons were in shock and disbelief as photos and videos of the tragedy began to emerge on Facebook and other forms of social media platforms. Mobile phones and high-speed internet made it possible for persons who were at the scene of the accident to broadcast ‘live’ as events unfolded. Many of us were given close-up shots of all that took place, some of which…
Read MoreThe Modi Phenomenon
Just a few months ago, most of the political pundits were predicting that a “revitalised” Congress Party under an aggressive Rahul Gandhi would give the BJP under Narendra Modi a run for its money. At the very best, they projected, after its phenomenal win in 2014, all the BJP would be able to do was win possibly 200 of the 543 seats in the Lower House, and depend on its allies in the NDA coalition for the remaining 72 seats to form a new government. When the results came in,…
Read MoreA needed paradigm for development
A decade after the last financial crisis which roiled the world, it has become obvious to most observers that more than facile cosmetic “tweakings” are needed for us to return on the path of sustainable development. This conclusion has forced many leaders of countries in crisis to re-examine the structural bases of their economies in an attempt to craft comprehensive and coherent responses that go beyond merely ameliorating symptoms. Such fundamental reappraisals have raised the demand for us to go beyond merely aspiring for “democracy”. Our expected oil revenues from…
Read MoreIndependence
On Monday last Guyana celebrated its 53 Independence Anniversary. The Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant observed that one cannot separate means from ends: the latter being simply “consummated means”. We, the inheritors of that “independence” can attest to the perspicacity of that statement as we review our history since. Burnham saw politics as “the science of the deal” and our Independence under his PNC was simply the result of a deal he cut with colonial Britain to prevent the PPP from collecting on their promise for independence to be granted to…
Read MoreGender stereotypes
With the PNC-led Government’s blessings, “Carnival” is now integrated into our Independence commemoration. This year, it kicked off with “Rum and Ramajay”, “Wet Wednesday”, “Stinging Nettles”, “Stink and Dutty Jouvert”, and culminated with the Dancehall music of Buju Banton. Since the Government simultaneously announced its commitment to fight “Gender Based Violence”, we publish the following as advice by a young Guyanese: “As Lady Saw, legendary female dancehall singer, says, ‘man a di least of mi problem’.” However, this phrase could not be further from the reality for most women in…
Read MoreGuyanese narratives and Independence
Another May 26; another Independence Day. But are we any closer to becoming a nation than on that day in 1966 when we received all the symbols of “nationhood’ – flag, national motto, national hero, pledge of allegiance; etc.? I say not, and this is so for so many reasons, not least of all because we have been unwilling to craft a national narrative on which we all agree. Benedict Anderson said nations are “imagined political communities”, and every nation that has amounted to something has a narrative that captures…
Read MoreFailed promise on addressing crime
When the PNC-led coalition assumed power in 2015, much of the credit was due to the incumbency factor that worked against the PPP Government after 23 years in office. But there were also the strident claims of the coalition parties during the campaign: that their slate, which was dominated by high level ex-personnel from the Police and Army, would be able to do a better job at curbing crime. Under “Programme of Action”, their manifesto promised: “Within the first 100 days of the formation of a Government of National Unity,…
Read MoreIndependence and politics
During their rule over the empire on which “the sun never sets”, the British insisted that, unlike the “settler colonies” such as Australia and Canada, the ones populated by non-European “natives” had to undergo a period of “tutelage” before they would be ready for independence. This policy was greatly resented by the new leaders of the latter colonies, including then British Guiana, who insisted they were in no way inferior to the British in matters political. In fact, they revelled in one account that described them as politically “precocious”. However,…
Read MoreIndependence and Armed Forces Indian Exclusion
By Ravi Dev As we approach another “celebration” of our Independence from Britain, crime once again threatens to overwhelm the country. This is even as President Granger sits on the last of a string of British-funded proposals to “professionalise” the Police Force, which appears to be permanently on its back foot. It is more than passing strange that none of these plans recommend that the Disciplined Forces in general, and the Police Force in particular, be made more ethnically representative of the country’s population – much as the British Police…
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