…in government
News of the “shutdown” of the American Government is dominating our newsfeed. This fourth shutdown in the past quarter of a century is interesting since it’s related to Trump’s immigration shakeup. While Guyana wasn’t identified as one of the “sh*thole” countries Trump insisted he wanted to radically cut immigration from, we’re undoubtedly on his list.
After all, if Haiti heads the list, and we’re just above them in the poverty hit parade, what’s our claim to fame in sending hordes of immigrants to the US? Our hordes get a free pass because of the present American immigration laws that allow naturalized citizens to sponsor parents and adult children etc. This will be changed to a Canada-like system wherein immigrants have to ‘qualify” according to criteria, such as skills etc that can help America. Nothing to quarrel about with that, is there? The (moral) fly in the ointment are the hundreds of thousands of “dreamers” – children of illegal immigrants who’d been given permission by Obama to stay if they registered – who’ll now be deported.
Anyhow, what’s of greater interest to your Eyewitness is the PROCESS by which the shutdown was brought about, which is due to the STRUCTURE of the American Government. There, they have a REAL separation of powers between the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. And when it comes to spending – and it’s money that makes the world go ‘round, in case you forgot – it’s a matter of the Executive proposing and the Legislature disposing.
And in this instance, one House of Congress that forms the American legislature –the Senate – has balked at paying the salaries of government bureaucrats who aren’t deemed ‘essential”, like, say, soldiers. The Government has to SHUT DOWN, since there aren’t bodies to do the job!!
Now, even though we say we have a “democracy” in Guyana, where there is “separation of powers”, there isn’t really. Think of it. The Members of the Executive – the Ministers – are also MPs in the Legislature, and the latter tongues are hanging out to do the Executive President’s bidding!! Especially those MPs who want to become Ministers to enjoy the perks!!
So the American Government shutdown demonstrates that democratic forms of government can be varied to suit the needs of the country. The American constitutional framers didn’t want to appoint a President who’d be a dictator like the King they threw out. So they “balanced” his powers with that of the Legislators, who’re independently elected and aren’t in the Cabinet.
We, however, have a co-joined Executive and Legislature – with only the Judiciary to take them on. And which is now being subverted.
Shouldn’t we also separate our legislature to prevent a dictatorship?
…of sugar
Your Eyewitness was just reminded by a friend of how devious and downright low this Government can be to those it considers not its supporters. And sugar workers are by definition in that category. Think of what’s now dominating the headlines – yup! – the 50% severance payout! With this GAMBIT – and a gambit it is – the President has effectively removed the debate and focus from his unilateral sugar estate closures, promises of land and alternate employment, to sugar workers!!
Didn’t think of it that way, did you? Neither did your Eyewitness. Workers – and even the Opposition — are going to be so focused on getting the remaining 50% severance they’ll be even praising the Govt when they finally get it in their hands!! Never mind the Government’s callous closures and firing of 5700 sugar workers and dooming their communities into an endemic life of poverty for another generation.
But who thinks that far ahead? Not those who’re only fixated on getting the balance of their severance!
…and ‘woulda, coulda and shoulda’
President Granger said, in the security area, it’s been 20 years of “woulda, coulda, shoulda”. Your Eyewitness didn’t know he was a fan of Brian McKnight. But on the sugar workers, he should remember Brian’s refrain: “Shoulda been a better man!”
