Well, democracy’s sure been in action recently in the “Global South”, across three continents – specifically South Africa, Mexico and India – where it was exported by the Imperialists with doubts it would take root!! South Africa was first out of the blocks…and was in so many ways a test case. Up to 1994, it was a paradigmatic example of an anti-democratic regime – with its apartheid laws explicitly denying equal rights to people from different race groups other than Whites. But in 1994, Nelson Mandela’s ANC won the first free and fair elections, to great expectations from the overwhelming Black masses, who’d been excluded from power.
Sadly, those hopes were dashed, as the ANC kept winning elections but its leaders became enmeshed in corruption, which resulted in basic services of Africa’s once top-performing economy – and a member of BRICS – could not be provided. Unemployment soared, and constant blackouts became a daily reminder of the distance not travelled. Were the white doubts on point?? So, finally, the voters spoke – and the ANC’s been denied the majority they commanded for thirty years. They’ll have to govern in a coalition, and it’s hoped that the ANC leaders would be reminded of the promises they’d made during apartheid.
Then the next one up was Mexico – where the drug lords have created states within the state. Plural! But in effect, not much has changed since Pancho Villas! The newly-elected president, who’ll take office on Oct 1st – Claudia Sheinbaum – may be the first female to lead that macho country, but she’s also the protégé of the fella who’s been ruling since 2018 – Andrés Manuel López Obrador – known by his initials Amlo!! He’s more of a populist, who seems to have worked out a modus vivendi with the gangs by looking away!! In the meantime, during the campaign, some 37 candidates were assassinated. Par for the(Mexican) course!!
And we now reach the grandaddy of all elections – India, with an electorate of 960 million people, where 650 million of them just voted!! That’s democracy speaking, baby!! And what it said was that the smart money who insisted that the BJP would roll over the Opposition and send them into oblivion – especially the old Congress – were absolutely wrong!! The BJP bled seats – especially in their Hindi Belt – and now have to depend, for the first time, on coalition partners!!
For this reason alone, we’ll be living in interesting times. Modi is back as PM, and we’ll just have to wait and see if he’ll be allowed to stride like a colossus across the world. And the word is “allowed”, since, in these matters, every other leader would be vying to become the top gun!!
Trump anyone??
…and prejudice
There’s the charge that, as life in Guyana’s becomes increasingly like a Hollywood “B” movie, it appears that to take care with folks “with extreme prejudice” is becoming commonplace. In military and other covert operations, “terminate with extreme prejudice” is a euphemism for aggressive execution. Like when Obama ordered “Osama bin Laden be terminated with extreme prejudice”. Get it?? Believe it or not, while it originated in movies like “Apocalypse Now”, the expression “termination with prejudice” was part of employment contracts!! In a military intelligence context, it’s generally understood as an order to assassinate.
So, here in our dear mudland – and we’ve heard live and direct – a Guyanese fella who’s living in foreign having the temerity to announce that Pres Ali, VP Jagdeo, AG Nandlall and Finance Minister Singh should all be beheaded!! If that’s not termination with extreme prejudice, then what is??
Now, being a sucker for the aforementioned B movies, your Eyewitness feels we oughta manners that fella – who we understand lives in Georgia.
…in Bridge crossing
Your Eyewitness read that two trawlers hit the DHB the other day, and there were “no disruptions”. Really?? Your Eyewitness took two hours to get from Eccles to the bridge on that day.
“No disruption” for whom??
Choices…
…in Government
Well, democracy’s sure been in action recently in the “Global South”, across three continents – specifically South Africa, Mexico and India – where it was exported by the Imperialists with doubts it would take root!! South Africa was first out of the blocks…and was in so many ways a test case. Up to 1994, it was a paradigmatic example of an anti-democratic regime – with its apartheid laws explicitly denying equal rights to people from different race groups other than Whites. But in 1994, Nelson Mandela’s ANC won the first free and fair elections, to great expectations from the overwhelming Black masses, who’d been excluded from power.
Sadly, those hopes were dashed, as the ANC kept winning elections but its leaders became enmeshed in corruption, which resulted in basic services of Africa’s once top-performing economy – and a member of BRICS – could not be provided. Unemployment soared, and constant blackouts became a daily reminder of the distance not travelled. Were the white doubts on point?? So, finally, the voters spoke – and the ANC’s been denied the majority they commanded for thirty years. They’ll have to govern in a coalition, and it’s hoped that the ANC leaders would be reminded of the promises they’d made during apartheid.
Then the next one up was Mexico – where the drug lords have created states within the state. Plural! But in effect, not much has changed since Pancho Villas! The newly-elected president, who’ll take office on Oct 1st – Claudia Sheinbaum – may be the first female to lead that macho country, but she’s also the protégé of the fella who’s been ruling since 2018 – Andrés Manuel López Obrador – known by his initials Amlo!! He’s more of a populist, who seems to have worked out a modus vivendi with the gangs by looking away!! In the meantime, during the campaign, some 37 candidates were assassinated. Par for the(Mexican) course!!
And we now reach the grandaddy of all elections – India, with an electorate of 960 million people, where 650 million of them just voted!! That’s democracy speaking, baby!! And what it said was that the smart money who insisted that the BJP would roll over the Opposition and send them into oblivion – especially the old Congress – were absolutely wrong!! The BJP bled seats – especially in their Hindi Belt – and now have to depend, for the first time, on coalition partners!!
For this reason alone, we’ll be living in interesting times. Modi is back as PM, and we’ll just have to wait and see if he’ll be allowed to stride like a colossus across the world. And the word is “allowed”, since, in these matters, every other leader would be vying to become the top gun!!
Trump anyone??
…and prejudice
There’s the charge that, as life in Guyana’s becomes increasingly like a Hollywood “B” movie, it appears that to take care with folks “with extreme prejudice” is becoming commonplace. In military and other covert operations, “terminate with extreme prejudice” is a euphemism for aggressive execution. Like when Obama ordered “Osama bin Laden be terminated with extreme prejudice”. Get it?? Believe it or not, while it originated in movies like “Apocalypse Now”, the expression “termination with prejudice” was part of employment contracts!! In a military intelligence context, it’s generally understood as an order to assassinate.
So, here in our dear mudland – and we’ve heard live and direct – a Guyanese fella who’s living in foreign having the temerity to announce that Pres Ali, VP Jagdeo, AG Nandlall and Finance Minister Singh should all be beheaded!! If that’s not termination with extreme prejudice, then what is??
Now, being a sucker for the aforementioned B movies, your Eyewitness feels we oughta manners that fella – who we understand lives in Georgia.
…in Bridge crossing
Your Eyewitness read that two trawlers hit the DHB the other day, and there were “no disruptions”. Really?? Your Eyewitness took two hours to get from Eccles to the bridge on that day.
“No disruption” for whom??
