Dear Editor,
I have seen Nigel Hinds’ letter concerning Harmon. I dare say that everything he wrote, and more, have crossed my mind since this thing started, and I have been trying to figure out what is going on.
It just couldn’t be that appointing Tiwari as a Business Advisor, or telling the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to hold its hand on the seizure of BaiShanLin’s assets could cause so much attack on the man, for as far as I am concerned, his actions should be commended in light of what is currently happening to the business community and the economy of the country.
Many business people I know feel the same way too. Truth be told, I am of the view that Harmon has realised what it really takes to run a country, and that witchhunts, vendettas, and exclusion cannot be tenable policy positions, but instead, are sure recipes for Government failure. Ironically however, it seems that he has now become victim of this recriminatory nastiness he is attempting to steer his Government away from. He has made mention, or implied something of a political conspiracy against him. If there is such, my interest is not only for what reason, but by whom.
In pursuit, I return to Hinds’ letter and its questions. Seemingly thorough as it is, I believe there are a lot of missing ‘dots’ for the connection. A major one for me is the role of the Kaieteur News in all of this. The relentless daily attacks against Harmon continue unabated, and although Hinds did ask who leaked the Tiwari instrument, he surprisingly did not ask “why to Kaieteur?” and whether it was to the Publisher or to the Editor. Similarly the case with the GRA/BaiShanLin seizure; why Kaieteur, even though the Guyana Stores taxes and re-migrant Lexus vehicles scam are still fresh GRA issues with which the Publisher of the Kaieteur News is allegedly connected?
In addition, I would ask “who are the persons in the coalition most connected to this newspaper? Who are its lawyers? If, as claimed, the Prime Minister, the Public Security Minister/Vice President and the Business Minister; all Alliance For Change (AFC) people; only knew about the matters after publication in the Kaieteur News, then who is the source? Is there someone with big ambitions and an axe to grind? Is there a link to any foreign diplomat? Has Harmon usurped the power (cravings) of anyone in the coalition?
If so, who? Has he dashed the expectations of a Publisher wannabe Power-Broker? If so, how?
Are there any links to accountants and auditors who have commented? Is there a sequel to Nassau?
Specifically with regards to the Tiwari case, I ask a few more, as I think aloud:
Was Tiwari being paid? What harm did his appointment cause? Did he make a ‘political investment’ to the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/AFC campaign? How many votes has the coalition lost (or gained) as a result? How many and who are the people he employs? Was Harmon able to get him to do works for free for Government or for any community? Was such precipitate action by the President necessary?
And in relation to the GRA: Now that the assets have been seized, what is the likely progression of the matter? Is BaiShanLin in genuine financial distress? What is the current situation in the country as it relates to the Private Sector and business activity in general? From the duties and taxes now being collected from current business activity, does something seem wrong? If fuel prices were to rise as the usually do without warning, what will be the effect on Government business? And do we really believe that GRA can operate without any political directions? Or does anyone at GRA owe his or her employment to political consideration/directions?
Editor, before I write to you again, it is my hope that some answers will come, directly or indirectly as we probe this conspiracy thing. Obviously Harmon knows a lot more than us, but I think he should resist the temptation to speak now, and wait for the dots to connect and the unravelling. In any event, judging from previous times, I don’t think he will do a good job at it. And I make no apologies for saying so.
I will close now with a bit of advice for him. The everyday task of running the country must continue; that responsibility is his more than anyone else’s. Get on with it. Businesses are hurting. People are hurting. The teachers and other public servants are waiting to be paid. The ordinary people, the constituents, believe they are now worse off. Let them be your focus even if you have to do deals with the devil, or be their ‘Robin Hood.’ Do not be deterred. Accommodation and inclusiveness are necessary for the sake of all and country, and there is nothing wrong in talking to Luncheon. He was a master at the game. Just don’t appoint him yet.
Yours faithfully,
William Tell
