Not surprisingly, post WWII Germany has been quite skittish about the first stanza of the national Anthem the Nazis had used from 1922 – Deutschland über alles” (‘Germany, Germany above all’) Putting any one thing over others became verboten in the liberal order that finally prevailed over communism by 1989. The united West and East Germany actually dropped the entire first stanza from their present anthem!! But they were still blasted by US Secty of State Rubio as being a “tyranny in disguise”!!
In Guyana the idea of “politics over everything else” was introduced by Burnham – who candidly accepted Machiavelli as his hero in politics – as far back as 1955. Politics to Burnham was all about having power in one’s hands – and he said that any politician who didn’t admit that all he wanted was power, was “either a liar or a scoundrel”!! It was for this reason that when Burnham rigged elections for decades while Cheddi still kept participating – he mocked Jagan as a “schoolboy”!!
He used “any means necessary” – especially force, to get and retain power as we saw between 1964 till he croaked in 1985. After the Yanks insisted on free and fair elections in 1992, the PNC went back to Burnham’s political playbook and used force against the PPP government at all levels. But since they were out of power and couldn’t use the police and army no mo’, how did they do it?? Burnham’s successor, Hoyte, announced the basis of their tactics: the army and police were “kith and kin” to the lumpen elements they’d deploy in Georgetown.
They were willing to destroy Guyana – and nearly did – as they egged on their supporters to loot, burn and attack anyone considered to be PPP supporters – meaning Indian Guyanese. And this is what your Eyewitness sees going on right now in the Opposition tactics following the tragic death of 11-year old Adrianna. What started out as a truly NATIONAL outpouring of grief and coming together to demand justice for the child, was hijacked by the Opposition to repeat the past.
But we’ve been warned that is will inevitably become a “farce” – which is now playing out. We have the example of the lawyer for Adrianna’s family demanding another autopsy before burial takes place. While the family insists they just want to bury their child. The family also got wind of the Opposition wanting to stage a protest at the funeral – and have put their feet down against this travesty.
But in an opposition that puts politics uber alles, expect them to ignore the family’s request and turn out today at the Vergenoegen tarmac – where the funeral service will be conducted.
The people will deal with them condignly come elections 2025.
…and commemorations
So today we’ll once again go through the farce of commemorating “Arrival Day” – when everybody and their Cha Cha are celebrating Indian Arrival Day. But hold it!! From what your Eyewitness has been reading, there ain’t gonna be much celebrating – with all of the major events been cancelled. Why?? Well, if you’re really not asking that question rhetorically, then you’ve been living under a rock for the last week!!
The Scrapes who disrupted the national outpourings of righteous indignation at the unexplained circumstances surrounding Adrianna’s drowning, have now been adopted by the Opposition – especially the fringe ones hustling for votes. If there were to be IAD celebrations, organizers have history to educate them to the reality that the now well-funded Scrapes will use it as an opportunity to collect more loot and booty.
And this is our tragedy. Rather than spending monies to advise and assist Scrapes in seizing the employment opportunities that now abound – as casual labourers in construction, for instance – the Opposition wants them to loot!!
…and bedfellows
There’s the saying: “politics makes strange bedfellows”. Meaning that to get ahead, politicians will get into bed with anyone who they think gonna give then an advantage. Just look who turned up at the Tuschen presser!!
