Even as Israel continued its bombardment of the Palestinian people in Gaza – killing 13 more on Tuesday, and bringing the total to 44,502 – the world commemorated Human Rights Day 2024 under the theme, “Our rights, our future, right now”. Well, it doesn’t look like there’s gonna be much to celebrate going forward, as Israel took the opportunity to bomb Southern Syria, seeing as to how Assad’s government had fallen to rebels and there’s gonna be the inevitable infighting on who’s gonna rule.
In the meantime, back here in our dear old Mudland, it’s the same ole same ole. With Christmas nigh upon us – as they say Biblically!! – Pressie came out like Father Christmas to announce a comparatively massive 10% pay raise for the public servants for 2024!! It’s gonna be “retro” from the beginning of the year, so it will end up putting a nice, fat stuffed envelope into their December paychecks. Since the minimum salary is $100,000, this means that the lowest on the totem pole will haul in an additional $120,000 – tax free!! With these worthies being the first batch to have registered for the $100,000 Pressie had announced as a cash grant to EVERY Guyanese adult in the jurisdiction – our public servants can now splurge their “retro” without guilt!! Unlike past years, their New Year will be nicely topped up, thank you!! Moreso their regular salary being increased another 8% for 2025!!
But your Eyewitness was surprised – and not a little disappointed – not to see GPSU’s Patrick Yarde at the signing ceremony on the wage agreement. Isn’t he “president-for-life”?? Why wasn’t he there taking the credit for lifting public servants higher and higher?? Seeing him in the papers at this time of the year since your Eyewitness was a wee lad – whether at the table signing or in the streets rioting – he’s as expected as Father Christmas!!
But another fella who’s been around as long (longer??) than Patrick is another President-for-life – of the GHRA; who, of course, couldn’t let Human Rights Day go by without comment, could he?? It’s his bread and butter, so to speak, innit?!! But that raises the question as to whether other Guyanese (he was naturalised quite a while back!!) than him don’t have the human right to chair the association. Anyhow, the press release he released on his big day was so esoteric that your simple Eyewitness is still trying to decipher it!!
He claims that “an obsession with getting rich quick is not only working against the interest of the majority of working people – as far as cost-of-living issues are concerned – but economically-driven ethnicity is working against fairness.”
What the heck does this mean?? As a minority white, he’s treated unfairly?
…for Venezuela
Edmondo Gonzalez — according to the US in a statement issued three weeks ago — is the “president-elect” of Venezuela, after his party’s performance at last July’s election. Previously, the Biden govt had just emphasised that Mad Maduro wasn’t showing his tally sheets to prove his claimed victory. This announcement signalled that change was in the air.
After Mad Maduro had cracked down on Opposition leaders and members, Gonzalez sought refuge in Span since Sept 8 – from where he announced: “You don’t go to war with fear, which is why I’m convinced I will somehow travel to Venezuela to take over.” The new president is supposed to be sworn in on Jan 10 – ten days before Trump.
Gonzalez’s announcement suggests that the Opposition might be forcing the hand of the incoming US administration to up the ante to remove Mad Maduro!!
The real Opposition Leader, Maria Corina Machado, who remains in hiding in Venezuela, said, “On January 10, the one who is against the wall is really Maduro, not us”!!
…for a post-Assad Syria
It’s noteworthy that – following the fall of Assad’s govt and his flight to Russia – in the briefing by the new interim leader, who comes from the ranks of the victorious rebels, the ISIS flag was flown.
Another Taliban scenario??
