…for Guyana
On the cusp of an election that from all the signs –- barring the PNC getting away with their rigging by the “nightshift” – the PPP/C will win, Opposition Leader Jagdeo sought to reassure the nation that their government won’t go down any road of “witch hunting and triumphalism”. What he was saying, of course, is that the PPP/C won’t repeat the actions of the PNC-led coalition Government – which made the witch-hunting of Salem look like playing a game of tag in the schoolyard!!
Now your Eyewitness supports this call 120 per cent!! In a nation that’s ethnically fragmented like ours, any witch hunting will just increase that fragmentation – since it’s always the “other” who’s the target. But what about other crimes that have been committed against the State by the big ones in this government and their friends and cronies?? To go after them certainly wouldn’t be “witch hunting”, but actually delivering justice for the Guyanese people.
Over the last five years, this PNC Government has raped the Guyanese treasury on a scale that’s unprecedented since their first incarnation – even surpassing what the colonial planters did during the years of slavery and indentureship! Take, for example the negotiation and signing of our first oil contract by Raphael Trotman!! Why are folks only wringing their hands about the “terrible” deal we got?? Did this “deal” drop from the skies?? Were the oil companies holding any gun to Trotman’s head?? Certainly not!!
So, let’s call a spade a spade and tell it like it is: Trotman’s “negotiation” passes the smell test for corruption from any direction you approach it: and corruption is a crime!! Does anyone really believe that the US$18 million is ALL we got as a signing bonus?? Today we hear of astounding amounts of money lost to us: US$55 BILLION! Just because of Trotman playing footsies when he was negotiating.
No…the Opposition Leader cannot give amnesty to such lowlifes like Trotman – they must be brought to justice. Back in 1992, Jagan had said, “no discrimination, no victimisation and no recrimination” against the PNC criminals – and look where it got not just him, but the country!! Immediate accusations of “ethnic cleansing” which segued into violent protests, “slow fyaah; mo fyaah” and then “Freedom Fighters”!!
Immediately after the March elections, simultaneously with launching their development plan that’ll include all Guyanese – especially erstwhile PNC supporters, the PPP Government must launch an Inquiry into the circumstances under which Trotman negotiated the oil contract and bonus. While it may be the prudent thing to have the contract stand – we aren’t international welshers, after all.
But we must deal condignly with the likes of Trotman, to ensure that we follow the virtuous path of States like Singapore!!
…and Greenidge
As a fella who spent most of his working life in diplomatic-type foreign postings – after his first inglorious stint as Finance Minister of a bankrupt Guyana under the PNC – Carl Greenidge was made Foreign Minister by David Granger. So, Carl’s uncharacteristic undiplomatic language of recent can’t just be because he’s become testy on account of being demoted to “Foreign Affairs Director”. Gotta be more in the mortar than the pestle!!
So, what’s in the mortar?? There’s the accusation by Granger’s former Energy Advisor that Carl was the one who most vociferously took positions favourable to the foreign oil companies rather than Guyana. Why?? Then, out of the blue, he attacked the NGO Global Witness most undiplomatically!! How’d he know about the Global Witness Report before it was released?? Was he the one conniving with Trotman to sell out Guyana’s interests??
As Brother Bob said, “who the cap fit/Let them wear it”. Your Eyewitness just “throw me corn/ Me no call no fowl”!!
Put them all on trial!!
…how sweet it is!!
Karma, and justice, can be a bitch!! Your Eyewitness had remarked on Granger’s desperation in New Amsterdam at the PPP’s tsunami!
But going into the graveyard isn’t going to save them.
Or will the dead be voting?!!