Fake…

…IDs for voting
One of the pluses of the PNC being out of office for 23 years is that it allowed the US “Automatic Declassification Rule on sensitive documents over 25 years old” to kick in. Since he expired 33 years ago, this gives us the opportunity to review Burnham’s schemes to construct his dictatorship with the aid of the Americans.
Of course there are exceptions, because of America’s policy not to reveal names of their informants and agents etc. Parts of the records may be redacted – blacked out – but what’s on the Internet is enough to telegraph plans of the present PNC leader, David Granger, who’s vowed to continue Burnham’s “legacy”.
Interesting for a historian, Granger never refers to those declassified files, even though he’s written about that period – especially “the troubles” as he calls them! One wonders why??!!
Anyhow, one of the revelations is about the behind-the-scenes moves to rig the 1968 elections, which were publicly exposed by the British Granada TV. They showed the “overseas vote”– introduced by Burnham — having being exercised by English horses!! (check YouTube if you don’t believe!!) One declassified file is from the “303 Committee” which was set up to place and keep Burnham in power so as to keep out Jagan. On 17 March 1967, it noted:
“Prime Minister Forbes Burnham…has stated that he is fully prepared to utilize the electoral machinery at his disposal to ensure his own re-election. Burnham has initiated steps for electoral registration of Guyanese at home and abroad, and has requested financial assistance…for the PNC campaign.”
A footnote explained further: “In a meeting on 16 September 1966, Burnham requested money for various political purposes, and outlined his plans to issue identification cards to all Guyanans (Guyanese) above the age of 10, and to identify and register all Guyanans of African ancestry in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, in order to get their absentee votes in the next elections.
“Conversely, Burnham acknowledged with a smile, East Indians living abroad may have trouble getting registered, and if registered, getting ballots.” Mout’ open!!
It’s against this background that we must evaluate the recent (belated) acknowledgement by the Granger-unilaterally-appointed, handpicked Chairman of GECOM, Patterson, that the fake ID occurrence, reported by the Opposition Leader almost a month ago, is true. The Police Commander of Berbice had then sought to “debunk” Jagdeo’s claim, rather than promising to investigate!!
The GECOM chair now admits: “This may also just be the beginning of mischief that is afoot, a fifth column lurking and running about, biding its time to come forth”. Damn right!!
Maybe he should have a chat with his sponsor?
…GuySuCo Board
The PNC government’s taken “fake news” to new heights (lows?) with the claim that the full-page ads in the dailies at the beginning of March announcing a new Board for GuySuCo was in fact “fake”!! If it weren’t for their pigmentation, there would’ve been a lot of red faces!! The new Board had raised a lot of eyebrows, not the least being it seemed to be another nail in the WPA’s coffin by easing out another of their leaders – Clive Thomas – from his power position as GuySuCo’s chair! His erstwhile co-leader of the WPA, Rupert Roopnaraine, had already been sent out to pasture – causing some in the PNC coalition partner to sulk.
So what could’ve caused this volte face – and the inchoate red faces – for Jordan to claim his subcommittee’s decision to “cancel and replace” the GuySuCo Board hadn’t been ratified by Cabinet??
Anything to do with trying to minimise fallout from the simultaneous firing of WPA’s Hinds from the Chronic?
The travails of a polygamous political marriage!!
…bonus
When will this Government get its story on the Exxon bonus straight? First, there was the silence. Then, that it was at the BoG. Then, it was in the Consolidated Funds. Now, it’s abroad earning interest?
And yet no “misconduct in officials”? !!