Guyanese will not risk rocking the boat come September 1st

Dear Editor,
Did a storm in a teacup brew in the US over what some opined was a possible abuse of power and an illegal direction for action without seeking permission from a consensus body, Congress? The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, the man who wants to make America great again, explicitly said that Israel and Iran don’t know what they are doing. His unhesitating language was profane and curt. He may as well be referring to the members of the Democratic Party who are split in their decisions to impeach Donald Trump in a third attempt. Yes, joining the Republicans were 128 Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, who voted against impeachment, and 79 Democrats, including Hakeem Jeffries, voted for impeachment.
Trump’s potent dialect may potentially insinuate the descriptive crumbling relationship with the PNC and the AFC. The PNC is playing big and wanting to stand alone in the upcoming election but then keeping the door open for an AFC arrival. The AFC stood tall and lonesome, only to suffer from defectors crossing the floor towards the PNC. Key members from the PNC have also resigned to join the PPP/C party. They are now being eyed as sour grapes!
The PNC certainly didn’t know what they were doing when they tried to “mess” with Trump back in 2020 during the attempted election rigging fiasco! The PNC and AFC ignored the then US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch’s plea to conduct a free, fair and transparent election. “The Granger government must respect the results of democratic elections and step aside,” former U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo had said.
When Trump says “Don’t”, countries ought to pay attention and do as he says. The no-nonsense man is pushing his weight around the globe and walking on toes in his journey. The PNC learnt the hard way back in 2020. Pompey told Granger to “step aside” with his band of rebels, failing which, the Trump administration will place “visa restrictions on individuals responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Guyana.” Those who don’t hear will feel. The rest is history.
Trump’s message is “America first”. Yet he allows Israel to be the guinea pig in the Iranian saga before bombing two key underground uranium enrichment plants. Trump sent 125 American aircraft, including B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, fighter jets and refuelling planes, to destroy the plants with some 420,000 lbs of explosives.
With Ukraine at the front fending off the Russians from an invasion, the US is supporting Zelensky with arms and ammunition from behind the scenes. “I’d like to see a deal with Russia,” Trump said on Tuesday morning as he headed to the NATO summit in the Netherlands. Trump continued, “As you know, Vladimir called me up. He said, ‘Can I help you with Iran?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t need help with Iran. I need help from you.’ Is the president from the most powerful nation on earth being ambiguously transparent in his ambition? Or, did his comments consist of conspicuous clarity?
America maintains permanent interests and never permanent friends. America helped Burnham to gain power in 1964 and kept Jagan out in the wilderness for 28 years. But it was the US who was instrumental in securing Jagan’s return to power in 1992. Again, an American oil company brokered the worst possible agreement with the PNC in the history of the oil industry. As the story goes, it was the Americans whose input denied the very PNC from getting their hands on the oil money!
America (Exxon) has a vested interest in Guyana’s oil and gas industry, which can transform “the largely underdeveloped English-speaking nation from one of South America’s most polarised and poorest into possibly one of its richest,” according to a 2020 Rystad Energy report. Political upheavals can definitely antagonise production operations and deescalate much-needed revenue to finance major ongoing infrastructure projects. Did the Americans smell the rat and know that the corrupted PNC could not be trusted, thus instituting visa sanctions and preventing the PNC from carrying out their devious plans?
Trump was regarded as the Big Brother to the small nations until the 2-day NATO Summit this week, which changed that reference to “Daddy”. On assuming office, the American president had vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine without any success to date.

His conversation with Pakistan and India had some significance, which saw a ceasefire after 4 days of military unpleasantries between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Pakistan had planned to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize Award in October. In less than 24 hours, Pakistan condemned Trump for attacking Iran, and their politicians are calling on the Pakistani government to withdraw that nomination.
President Trump always plays the trump card and has the last say. His attack on Iran should be regarded as a warning shot over the heads of the PNC/AFC. The Americans are in no mood to tolerate any undermining of democracy in Guyana. No election rigging must be attempted; no violence will be tolerated, and any race or hate crime will be condemned. One contestant has already felt the claw of the American Eagle.
‘Don’t’ means ‘do not’, according to Trump. Big Daddy will not condone you when you step out of line. Maduro is at bay currently and soaking (sulking?) in the world’s events as Trump calls the shots. Will he risk the wrath of a fiery anger? They say, “Forewarned is forearmed.” The APNU/AFC Opposition should not take this with a pinch of salt but pay attention to President Trump and President Ali. Come September 1st, Guyanese will not take any risk to rock the boat.

Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall