Collecting…

…freebies
One of the challenges for the Government’s “One Guyana” vision for our country is to assist “we the people” to develop a common perspective on the major facets of national life. We can’t all be pulling in different directions, can we?? Coming out of a centuries-old poverty-stricken colonial heritage – and now striking oil – it ain’t surprising that being able to live the “good life” is rather high on our list of priorities! After all, the Europeans and their inheritors certainly flaunted the trappings of the good life in our faces!!
There are, however, two views as to what roles we citizens of Guyana oughta play in acquiring said trappings. The one pushed by the Opposition – especially the PNC remnants and the WPA vestige – is for the Government to provide a “Basic Minimum Income” of $1 million annually to every Guyanese adult!! Or in lieu of that, to dole out “cash grants” regularly to the aforementioned citizens!! In this way, everyone’s GUARANTEED the good life!!
Now let’s be honest about this view. Most of us would rather “throw back” and let the good times roll, innit? But isn’t free money flowing into our pockets gonna destroy the greatest incentive for us to create our own wealth and good life – that is, to escape poverty?? Haven’t we seen this with so many layabouts refusing to work while waiting for the MoneyGram funds from our relatives in “farrin”? And right now haven’t we witnessed the indignation – nay, even vitriol! – aroused when it was hinted we mighn’t get a promised $100,000 “Christmas” cash grant?? The handout had morphed into an entitlement!! And at a practical level, what happens when the oil money runs out?? “Oil doan spoil,” as Eric Williams boasted, but “oil does done” – as his rueful successors in T&T have found out!! Do we want to go down that dead-end path?
So what’s the PPP Government saying?? Its position is that while there will be some cash grants at this time – because of our dire poverty – the focus oughta be on creating more and better-paying jobs that gonna give us the wherewithal to live that “good life”!! And most importantly, that ain’t gonna create that dependency syndrome – but rather create that feeling of accomplishment that liberates us!! Masters of our own fate and captains of our destiny, and all that!!
So what about the Opposition criticising the Government for “building roads” since “people can’t eat roads”!!? Well, businessmen – and women – wouldn’t be investing their money on factories, etc, to create jobs if they can’t move the raw materials to them and the finished products to wharves and airports to be exported!!
It’s a chicken-and-egg problem – and we’re at the “egg” stage!! Let it hatch!!

…scalps
All ain’t so quiet on our western front – as America keeps turning the screws on Mad Maduro and his Cartel of the Suns band of drugs and gold smugglers!! The latest outburst came from Maduro’s Defence Minister Padrino, who whined, “We have detected more than five vectors flying at speeds of 400 knots and at an altitude of 35,000 feet!!” Well, those specs indicate the American F-35 Lightning II – a leading-edge stealth multirole fighter.
Padrino didn’t mention the Venezuelan warplane that buzzed the US fleet!! But went on to warn the US, “Don’t make the mistake of militarily attacking Venezuela. Think carefully, do your research, and understand our national spirit.” Well, what does the “research” show on Venezuela taking on F-35s?? Their Soviet-made Su-30MK2 and ageing 1980s US F-16s are outclassed by light years!!
Now, while most have concluded it’s a war break between the US and Venezuela – ending only in Maduro’s ouster – it mightn’t need an invasion.
Maybe it’s all a psyop for an internal overthrow??

…unanimity
The Dominican Republic’s preparing to welcome hemispheric leaders to the 10th Summit of the Americas on December 4 to 5 in their beautiful resort of Punta Cana.
But the Cuban, Nicaraguan and Mad Maduro’s Governments ain’t getting no invitations!!