As you well know, dear Reader, your Eyewitness has been diligently (obsessively?) following the goings-on in the Opposition camp – especially the exodus of high-profile leaders. He’s had to infer the reasons for their perambulations cause, in most cases, no reasons were given. Or if they were, they’re personalised. However, Jermaine Figueira, the latest bigwig to exit the PNC – and even though he’s young (or maybe ESPECIALLY because he’s young!) he IS a bigwig – took the time to offer his rationale in a very thoughtful and structured manner.
For which, of course, your Eyewitness is quite grateful, since it makes his job of analysing the political traffic much easier. Figueira offered four reasons – all of which speak to the Guyanese populace’s need for the best leadership at this critical juncture of our history. Not just because elections are just around the corner – but because the said elections ’ gonna determine who’ll be in charge of spending the oil revenues that offer the first opportunity to make us really independent.
Figueira’s first reason was the “Erosion of the Ideal of National Unity”, pointing to the PNC’s “alignment with elements espousing divisive ethno-political rhetoric, which corrodes the pluralistic foundation of our society”. Now your Eyewitness has been writing about this retrograde step until he’s now literally blue in the face!! Figueira, of course, is referring to the PNC’s coalition with the now rabidly racist WPA and its geriatric leadership – who’ve been praised by Leader Norton as “intelligent” – and so cannot be criticised!!
And one doesn’t have to wax idealistic or anything like that – one can look at the “national unity” goal from a purely pragmatic perspective!! Imagine working to get 50%+1 vote – when your traditional (African) base is just 29% of the populace – and the WPA’s cussing out Indian members of the executive who defended Indian pride!! For goodness sake!! Those Indian members should’ve been given a prize for not only attracting members from outside the faithful – but also giving ammunition to take on the PPP!!
His second reason was a “Decline of Internal Ethics and Honour” in the PNC, when he claimed, “The internal culture of the PNCR has deteriorated from principled deliberation to an insular climate defined by sycophancy, vindictiveness, and the systematic side-lining of faithful contributors.” Whew!! So, the parochialism wasn’t confined to Indians – but also some “born PNC”!! The third reason was “Absence of Visionary Leadership” when Figueira claimed the PNC “suffers from intellectual inertia and political pettiness”. While this has a subjective element – this critique was offered by several other departees.
Lastly, he pointed to a “Failure to Uphold National Duty” when the PNC didn’t participate in the National Assembly’s denunciation of Venezuela revanchism!!
A most damning exposure of the PNC from inside!!
…for gold digging
There’s gold in them thar pits that Omai had abandoned – 2.3 million oz “indicated” – after they’d been drilling exploratory holes for the last four years! Most Guyanese would (or should) remember the 1995 disaster when over 400 MILLION gallons of cyanide-laced water from their tailings pond – after gold was extracted – spilt into the Essequibo River!! Omai continued to work the site – after a class-action suit was dismissed for the environmental damage – until 2005 after they’d extracted 3.8 million oz of gold. The company then passed through at least half a dozen hands. Until – with gold crossing the US$2000/oz mark – Omai completed a reverse takeover and started drilling!!
Our concern – which your Eyewitness hopes is obvious – is to ensure that we get more revenues from the % royalties we’re supposed to receive on gold production, which may once again become the largest open-pit mine in all of Latin America!!
And we can’t allow Omai to once again claim no profits – and pay no taxes!!
…for QC’s continued success
QC’s celebrating 50 years of going co-ed. While at the time it was seen as “helping girls up the ladder”, we see now it’s the girls who’ve helped QC remain – and even rise – up the (educational) ladder!!
