…in power
History’s replete with stories of small fellas who’ve brought “big ones” down low. We’ve all heard of Jack of “the Axe” fame… the kid who chopped down that Beanstalk and brought that fierce giant tumbling down. And then of course there’s David of biblical renown who took on – and then took out – the mighty Goliath. Well, it seems we’ve just discovered our own giant killer in Guyana – and he’s another David: David Patterson.
Pressed at the latest AFC press conference as to what was the denouement on the pitched rear-guard action they’d fought after claiming that too much power was accreted into the person of Minister of State Joe Harmon, Patterson claimed they’d cut him down to size. Pressed further if he’d care to elaborate on exactly what “powers” had been “cut”, Patterson coyly allowed he wasn’t one to boast!! And that the evidence was there to see!
Now while your humble Eyewitness would love to have an addition into the ranks of the modest and unassuming, he does think Patterson’s being more than a tad disingenuous. Right off the bat… the AFC’s grouse wasn’t just that Harmon was exercising too much power – but that these powers should’ve been more properly situated in that paragon of modesty, our recently self-confessed Tamilian PM, Moses Nagamootoo.
Now this Eyewitness never really felt Harmon was encroaching on anyone’s turf – least of all the PM. Like all good aide de camps, all he was doing was ensuring that his principal’s instructions were carried out. When slackers – like so many from the AFC camp congenitally are – fell down on the job, Harmon was forced to step in. But because they were showed up for the slackers they were, it bred resentment in the AFC executive.
Rather than thanking Harmon for saving their a55es, they sulked, stamped their feet and finally had a retreat (beat a retreat?) to draw some line in the sand. All the retreat did, however, was to precipitate the departure of their Chairman! But Patterson thinks he’s being clever to ask reporters to show where Harmon’s now overstepping his remit. Wouldn’t a better proof of the AFC’s and Patterson’s giant killing skills be to show where the PM’s powers have been restored?
What about their pet peeve about the PM not been allowed to coordinate all the other Ministers as far as it had to do with his remit of “governance”. Which is where they griped Harmon was muscling in. For example, exactly what has the PM done to get Patterson to find out exactly what’s going on with the blackouts?
And if Harmon had stepped it, they’d be bitching about “power grab”!! What wankers!!
…in responsibilities
In Guyana, very few in the government appreciate the role of the Board of Directors of government corporations. And it’s really torpedoing their hopes of running this ship of state. A Board is responsible for setting policies for the corporation and then ensuring the management, headed by the CEO and his Executives, “execute” – as in “carrying out” – those policies. Not “execute” as in “killing” those policies – which seems to be the understanding of some in this government.
Take GWI… where the Chairman of the Board just resigned because the CEO’s doing whatever he damn well feels and – sensing where the winds’ blowing from above – some in the Board’s not willing to bell the CEO. Chairman Hinds has done the right and honourable thing – since ultimately he has a fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders of his corporation – the people of Guyana. He doesn’t want to be a “rubber stamp”.
Unlike the Chairman of GuySuCo, who allowed the government to bypass him and his Board to close Wales Estate!
…in aid
In the aid game, he recipient’s merely the conduit via which the aid’s returned to the giver.
Like with the $62M the US donated to prepare us for joining the EITI. The money goes to the US based Carter Centre!
