…in Brazil
Most Guyanese are kinda confused about what exactly’s going on in Brazil. Here it is, their President Dilma Rousseff – with one of the highest popularity ratings a year ago…and the handpicked successor of the MOST popular president of Brazil of all times – being IMPEACHED? Not for being personally corrupt, but for balancing the budget through forbidden unorthodox methods! And there’s no one in the streets for her? What’s going on?
Part of the confusion is because the folks trying to impeach her are themselves being knocked over like ninepins for …you guessed it…personal corruption!!! To get a sense of what’s going on…or more like, what’s going down – we’ll have to back up a bit. Between 1964 to 1985, Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship. That’s the same period Burnham ruled Guyana as a dictator…but his Brazilian counterparts made him look like a kinder, gentler Santa Claus!!
Even the anodyne Wikipedia says, “To extinguish its left-wing opponents, the (Brazilian) dictatorship used arbitrary arrests, imprisonment without trials, kidnapping, and most of all, torture, which included rape and castration”. That’s right…you could lose your nuts. We shouldn’t be surprised the US supported the army coup against the left -leaning Brazilian President in 1964, should we? The beneficiaries of the military rule was an oligarchy that sucked the country dry as Brazil became one of the most stratified countries in the world. Life was desperate for the poorer, generally African dominated classes.
The pertinent fact is Rousseff – even though from a middle-class family – was a guerrilla rebel against the military dictatorship and was jailed and tortured for years. After the dictatorship, she plunged into electoral politics and eventually joined the leftist PT under the charismatic Lula. She was his chief of staff during his two-term presidency.
But we have to cut to the quick… With the redistributive policies of Lula and Rousseff, we shouldn’t be surprised the old oligarchy reacted like the Sheriff of Nottingham when Robin Hood did his “steal from the rich and give to the poor” bit back in Sherwood Forest. Even though the iconic Lula himself was accused of dipping into the till, never Rousseff. But the representatives and successors of the old oligarchy capitalised on Rousseff’s middle-of-the-road approach which teed off both her poor and lumpen supporters and her wealthy opponents.
While the opportunists might squeeze out Rousseff, like in Venezuela with Maduro, the “Return of the Oligarchy” doesn’t bode well for Brazil.
And for us in Guyana. It’ll be like sitting on a powder keg?
…at NCN
The Government audit of NCN shows a whole host of Organisations and companies owing the State broadcaster. Millions and Millions! But somehow the State media just mentions the PPP’s campaign debt. Now don’t get this Eyewitness wrong. He believes anyone that racked up debts for services rendered ought to cough up.
But that’s exactly what’s wrong with the finger pointing. Some debts have already been written off. With another written-off debt, we’ve gotten some more details – and it stinks to high heavens! It has to do with $2.5M owed by the company Merundoi whose director sits on the NCN Board – which makes the decision on these matters! Imagine that!!! Merundoi paid $200,000 and had $2.1M or 92% written off!
Asked about this blatant conflict of interest, Chairman of the Board of this “people of Guyana” company, Bish Panday replied curtly, “Ain’t nobody business but me own!”
So will the PPP get $20M written off?
…perpetrators nabbed!
This Eyewitness is pleased as Punch the Police have acted so swiftly to nab suspects in the despicable grenade throwing incident at the Muckraker.
He’s expressed differences with the Muckraker’s style, but draws the line there.
Bring back the cat o’ nine tail!
