…about governance optics
In describing the nature of social change, Marxists used to carry on at length about “the qualitative” changing “the quantitative”. All your Eyewitness can say is that it’s clear this government doesn’t give a damn about criticisms it’s slowly changing the qualitative nature of the government and governance of Guyana by its quantitative change in the number of military types they have drafted in and out of retirement.
What was it Burnham had said? “Back to back, belly to belly, Ah don’t give a damn, Ah done dead a’ready”!! Meaning that the party might’ve as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb in doing things “their way” – which was “Co-operative Socialism” – backed by a militarised State. And what is it your Eyewitness is frothing at the mouth about? Well, of course, it’s the decision by Prezzie to schedule meetings of the Cabinet at Camp Ayanganna. Yup! The same Ayanganna where all the ballots were brought in 1973 – after two civilians were killed to prevent that – to be “counted” in such a manner to give the PNC the two thirds majority they wanted.
Now what kinda signal is Prezzie signalling to the Guyanese people? Why would the Government want to do something like this apart from arrogance and taking their supporters for granted? Who will buy the rationale offered that “security” concerns dictated the move to Army Headquarters? Yeah, right!! If the Presidential Guards can’t guarantee security at any of a dozen governmental locations available− especially the Convention Centre − they ought to be demobilised immediately! And the Presidential Guards can be deployed all around the perimeter with snipers on the roof of the Caricom Secretariat if necessary.
We know Prezzie has an inflated Cabinet – the largest in the history of Guyana – but still, surely a hundred persons can be accommodated at Liliendaal. The only problem your Eyewitness can foresee the Convention Centre mightn’t be able to accommodate a large oval table such as is available at the Presidential Complex to host Cabinet meetings, and which President Jagdeo and Ramotar used.
But hold it! This might be the clue for the strange choice. In the first Cabinet meeting President Granger held – for which the pic was released to the public – he utilised the Credentials Room. And there he sat, military style at the head of the room behind a desk with the Ministers arrayed in front of him like the juniors they were! So maybe this is why Ayanganna was preferred – since this is the only formation the military knows. You gotta know who’s the alpha male top gun!!
Not so incidentally, was PM Nagamootoo sitting on the left hand of the President as was promised?
…about rice
The “big crop” in rice is coming in. But the prices certainly ain’t “big” for paddy. This is the third crop been harvested since the government stood by and let the Venezuelan market “slip-slide away” even though prices were almost double than anywhere else. And not surprisingly farmers have been crying in the wilderness for something to be done. Last October, Nagamootoo was in Mexico and, remarkably, assured farmers he’s “secured” markets for our paddy in one hour! This would be “fast tracked”.
Well, the track must’ve been slow like the pitch at Providence since a year later, it’s still – no contracts. In March this year, Agri Minister Noel Holder also visited Mexico on some junket – and confirmed the market. But they were doing some “phytosanitary” checks.
And here it is, last week Holder again went to Mexico where he exchanged ideas on all sorts of fancy ideas, including “phytosanitary practices”!
But this time, was mum on the rice contract. Over to the PM?
…about decimal points
Seems someone at the Amerindian Ministry was a tad careless about where to put a decimal point when paying a bill for $252,200 by cheque. The cheque came out at $2,522,000!!
And the contractor, being Guyanese, kept quiet!!
