Didn’t the President say the treasury was empty?

Dear Editor,

On October 17, 2015 Guyana Times published an article under the caption, “Govt to spend double $B to boost GDF’s strength and capabilities.” The article stated that President Granger intends to increase allocations to the GDF by Gy$20 billion.

President Granger’s motive, according to the article is that: “The force must have the capacity to maintain adequate combat-ready units with the correct mix of personnel and equipment.” As part of his plan, he wants to reinstate the People’s Militia.

OK, I am confused. Didn’t the President say that the “treasury is empty”? Where will he get the money to invest in the GDF? Are they using Enron style accounting? But, let’s assume that they do find the money to finance this initiative. What are they getting ready for? Will we be putting boots on the border to defend against Venezuelan aggression? With all due respect to the men and women in uniform, I doubt that Guyana has the capability now or will in the future, even with another Gy$20B investment, to repel military aggression from Venezuela.

It kind of begs the question. What is the purpose of increasing funding for the military and reinstating the People’s Militia, (which was used as a paramilitary-arm of the PNC). Are the preparations really to address exterior threats? Or is the intention to use the GDF and the People’s Militia against the people of Guyana, as was done in the past when the GDF was used to rig the elections?

The arrogance of APNU is self-evident. They have essentially discarded the Cummingsburg Accord that they used to get into power. They have packed Boards and State entities with party hacks. The CEO of GUYWA, Burnham’s son-in-law Van West Charles, was hired without the position being advertised or interviews conducted. After three months in office, they have doubled their salaries, giving Moses Gy$20 million per year to keep quiet. The uproar from civil society does not appear to bother them.

It is very significant that the military hosted a big birthday bash for President Granger. He has superimposed on the Government a layer of ex-GDF officers, dubbed advisors. It starts with Col Harmon who wields more power than the Prime Minister, even when the latter is acting as President. When President Granger went to address the UN it was not the Acting President who issued the press release addressing the Venezuelan aggression.

The country needs to know how many ex-military advisors are attached to the Office of the President. What is their role and how do they interface with line ministers. When the US Ambassador said that Roger Khan’s testimony could be available to the Government, Minister of Security Ramjattan said he was not particularly interested, while Granger expressed a deep desire to obtain the testimony.

Who speaks for the Government, Ramjattan or Granger? Or is this the beginning of the sidelining of the AFC? Does it signal a realisation that the AFC has outlasted its usefulness? Does it mean that a fully-entrenched military signals a return to the rigging of elections in Guyana?

Now that we have discovered oil in Guyana, will the PNC be willing to give up the booty in fair and free elections? Why, when they can hold power through the power of the gun than the ballot? Does it thus make sense to run the Government with ex-GDF advisors, boost military spending, and reinstitute the “People’s Militia”?

It is food for thought, particularly for the AFC who foisted the PNC on the people of Guyana. They may call themselves APNU but they are PNC steeped in the old ways of rigging elections.

Sincerely,

Sandra Biswas