Seismic shock has been expressed here in Mudland at what is seen as Trump’s moves to evidently shutter USAID and its programs, which span the globe on its US$27 billion budget. Our reporting was almost hysterical: “The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has programs in Guyana that focus on health, economic growth, and democracy and governance. Health: Improving public health systems, Increasing access to comprehensive care, Improving HIV prevention services, and Improving supply chain management for drugs and other supplies. Economic growth: Supporting the private sector, and Increasing investments in non-traditional exports. Democracy and Governance: Improving institutions and systems, Improving rule of law, Improving political competition, Improving consensus building, and Improving civil society.”
And for good measure, that “USAID also has a project that aims to reduce youth violence by providing job and civic opportunities to at-risk youth”. Whew!! With such an expansive range of activities there doesn’t appear to be much left for the Government to do!! Did the average Tom, Dick or Harrylall realize the Yanks were doing all of this for us?? And imagine this being customized and replicated in so many other countries. God bless America!! The White Man’s burden never ends!!
So, what’s really going on?? Is it an outward expression of Trump’s domestic rejection of the Statue of Liberty’s articulation of America’s willingness to help the poor of the world by welcoming them into their country, if necessary?? So, is the rest of the world to remain sick, poor and ruled by vicious dictators?? Oh tempora! Oh Mores!!
But truth be told, USAID not-so-incidentally fronted regime change activities!!
Well, from the job description Trump gave to Elon Musk, the Sherrif of DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), you’d think they’re just streamlining USAID. However, from the Embassy’s announcement to the locals, being “assisted” implied more than a recalibrating: “We ask that you cease activities under your award, and do not incur any additional costs at this time. All foreign assistance funding is currently under review as part of a broader evaluation of foreign assistance programs. As such, all activities related to this award must be paused until further notice.”
Since then, we’ve learnt that of the 9000 USAID employees worldwide, just 294 of them gonna be retained, and new ones rehired. So, from where your Eyewitness sits, it looks like Trump and his Sherriff of DOGE doesn’t intend to ABOLISH USAID, but rather rehouse and rebrand it. In tune with this was Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement that he’s the acting administrator of USAID – which possibly signifies it might be subsumed into State.
It’s becoming clearer and clearer that we’re looking at a more focused approach in the US’ relationship with the world!!
…poverty??
It’s been almost two years since the World Bank bumped us up into the elevated ranks of the “High Income Country”. Imagine that!! But that illustrates the truism that you can’t believe everything you read, you gotta make sure your also read the fine print in the footnotes!! And what’s in those footnotes?? Just that most of our “growth in income” comes from the oil revenues that’re lumped in our Gross National Product and divided by the number of our residents!!
So, of course, that figure’s increasing explosively; you’re dividing an exponentially increasing number (oil revenues) by a stagnant number – our evidently fixed population!! But the fact of the matter is that the oil revenues aren’t REALLY divvied up and passed on to the citizenry as income!! No siree Bob!! 84% goes into ExxonMobil’s, Hess’s and CNOOC’s bank accounts, and the 16% remainder is spent by the Govt on infrastructural projects to create a growing economy!!
So, sure, incomes are rising – but nowhere near real life high-flyers like Singapore!!
…Haiti’s misery?
One of the saddest cutbacks announced by the new Trump Administration is in its commitment to the funding of the security forces that’s being assembled to take back Haiti from the gangs holding it hostage!! How long, Jah??
