Columnists hiding behind fake names have zero credibility

Dear Editor,
Not a day goes by without elements of the Opposition calling for greater transparency and accountability. Yet, daily, top newspapers in the country publish the most asinine articles by columnists who lack the courage to put their real names to what they claim. The most cursory review of recent articles by “Peeping Tom” is a case in point. Allow me to demonstrate my position with direct evidence.

Case #1: In his April 14 piece, “Jagdeo is confusing himself”, Tom writes the following – “Jagdeo continues to insist that there was no private investor in the Marriot (sic) Hotel.” In the next paragraph, Tom attempts to make a slam-dunk case by stating – “Yet, he [Jagdeo] conceded earlier that his government had been seeking an equity investor and a loan for the hotel.”
Readers, including our grade six pupils, would see that the premise of Tom’s argument and the evidence provided to support his claim have no relationship with each other. Could someone please explain to Tom that an attempt to secure a loan does not mean that the same materialised? May someone also remind Peeping Tom that the entire Opposition (political parties and so-called civil society groups) were against building the hotel? All of them said it would be a failure, now these same naysayers want the Government to keep the thriving hotel.

Case #2: The April 18 column by Peeping Tom, titled “Jagdeo is wrong about Europe and natural gas”, is a product of confusion and incompetence. The columnist mixes up the intent of EU declared policy on natural gas with the reality of EU fossil energy consumption.
Tom writes the following – “Jagdeo is…confusing investments in LNG terminals and storage infrastructure, intended to handle greater imports of LNG.” Peeping Tom misses the key point, which is: EU consumption of natural gas – whatever the form it may take, and however it may be delivered – is among the highest in the world. Tom and his fellow naysayers, such as Joly, Janki and Bulkhan, need to live up to the fact that the EU and North America, who make the most noise about climate change, are STILL the greatest per capita consumers of fossil fuels in the world, and that they continue to drill, baby; drill. Natural gas is a transitional fuel in the context of the current world energy situation.
Note the following from Reuters (17/1/23): “Britain’s first oil and gas exploration licensing round since 2019 attracted 115 bids, up from 104 in the last round, with the licenses likely to be awarded from the second quarter…” According to the UK’s North Sea Transition Authority, 898 blocks and ‘part-blocks’ were offered up to potential investors for oil and gas exploration. That is correct: 898!!

Case #3: On April 19, Tom decided to land a knockout punch with his piece “A straightforward question deserves a straightforward answer.” Here is Tom – “Any person that has ever taken a loan knows the importance of the interest rate on that loan. The higher the interest rate, the greater will be the loan repayments.” At one level, this is tautological, and therefore has no value added from a paid columnist. But worse is the fact that it is tragically misleading.
Peeping Tom takes the word “loan” as a generic financial instrument rather than differentiate among numerous types (for instance, consumer versus commercial), and other variables, such as the amortisation schedule. These last factors are necessary when discussing interest rates and total costs.
Tom also ignores the details of the explanation provided by Vice President Jagdeo. On the oil and gas sector rates, the VP was keen to point out the multiple pressures against “easy money” that used to be available only years ago.
Quantitative tightening in the US (followed by the same elsewhere), combined with the Euro-American (undeclared) policy of squeezing Third World oil and gas exploration, has made interest rates almost punitive. The only thing left for the US, EU and UK to do is sanction lenders who provide development capital to Third World countries seeking to develop oil and gas.
As for the Marriott Hotel, the proof is in the pudding. The hotel will be sold at a profit, higher-than-normal interest rates incurred notwithstanding.

Case #4: In his April 16 deposit, “Local Government Elections will solve nothing”, Peeping Tom, in full hiding, declared that “David Granger demonstrated the greatest willingness to make (sic) Local Government Elections work.” This is the same David Granger who, according to some press reports, aided and abetted the most brazen assault on free and fair elections for five months in 2020.

The said column by Tom lacks focus, dashing in and out of issues much like an East Bank minibus driver on steroids. For instance, Tom cannot make up his mind on a series of questions, including basic ones such as: Is local government a good thing that needs support, or is it so bad it should be abandoned? At times, the problem for Tom is one of money, while at other times it is one of lack of qualified staff. And then, to top off the nonsense, Tom comes up with this – “The problem however goes much deeper. Local government is incompatible with our central political system.” Yes, you just read that.
So, let us focus here. Peeping Tom, who thinks David Granger was the best hope for Local Government, himself believes that local government, based on our political system, is useless. This means that Granger is most qualified for the one thing that Tom believes is unworkable!
With supporters like Peeping Tom, Aubrey Norton’s PNC and Ogunseye’s WPA are bound to fail. This particular Tom (if there is indeed more than one) is a disaster, not only for his credibility, but for the undeclared yet well-known support he provides the Opposition through his column.
Those who want transparency and accountability must look after their own house first. The anonymous columns by Peeping Tom(s), the letters to the editor that are signed with fake names, or those that hide behind the sign “civil society” lack the basic minimum of transparency and accountability. I encourage Tom to come out.

Sincerely,
Dr Randolph Persaud