…at Mon Repos
Waaaay back in the day, one of those Greek philosophers – who’ve remained relevance through the millennia, for good reason – said, “The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind small.” And indeed they do!! So, while it might’ve taken some time, justice’s gonna be done in the Mon Repos Market atrocity. The stallholders had been going about their business, eking out a living selling vegetables and other necessities to the people of the East Coast as they’d been doing day in day out for all their lives – making an honest dollar.
And suddenly, as Byron had described the scene from “The destruction of Sennacherub” – The Assyrian – here, read the Opposition-inspired “protestors” from Golden Grove – came down like the wolf on the fold and wreaked havoc on those hapless, innocent stallholders. As the Police describe it, “Terror and mayhem were unleashed on persons on the East Coast of Demerara…during which several vehicles were burnt and a number of stalls were ransacked and looted at the Mon Repos Market. Roads were blocked by burning debris, and scores of persons were beaten and robbed during the acts of terror committed by ‘protestors’.”
Folks were wondering whether the Police and law enforcement were gonna allow the violation of all the laws and norms of civilised society to go unpunished – and encourage further transgressions. But here it is: the GPF has issued a wanted bulletin for 12 individuals – along with their mug shots – for allegedly unleashing terrorism.
The FBI describes ‘terrorism as “violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.” The key point is that the violence is for the perpetrators to “further ideological goals”. Here, the Opposition were trying to oust the PPP Government since Aug 2020!! The FBI notes that: “International and domestic violent extremists have developed an extensive presence on the Internet through messaging platforms and online images, videos, and publications. These facilitate the groups’ ability to radicalize and recruit individuals who are receptive to extremist messaging.”
In Guyana, the terrorists had been egged on for weeks by allegations that a young man had been “executed” by the Police. But rather than pointing to Police unprofessionalism – after all, another killing had been committed under similar circumstances – the provocateurs personalised it politically against the Government.
And based on our unfortunate history since the sixties, this was tantamount to siccing the protestors on perceived “supporters” of the PPP!! It’s happened dozens of times since the sixties, and will happen again unless, at long last, the recent action demonstrates there are consequences from going down THAT road!
… by American Airlines?
What else can you call the manner in which American Airlines treated the PMs of Trinidad and St Vincent – Keith Rowley and Dr Ralph Gonsalves – but “terrorism”? Insisting that they use the regular checkout counter rather than proceeding from the VIP Lounge – as requested by our Government!! Your Eyewitness knows that Americans aren’t supposed to be too hung up on ceremonies – although you could’ve fooled him the way they carry on about British Royalty!! But, Jeez!!
Since they rejected our request and treated our honoured guests – and fellow Caricom partners – in such an unbecoming and cavalier manner – we gotta assume AA’s making an “ideological” point against us!! So, what’s that?? After a snafu that delayed a flight to Miami with President Ali for four hours, AA was forced to apologise and make changes. “We have installed a new Regional Manager with oversight for Guyana, and there will be changes within our local team.”
Is the treatment of PMs Rowley and Gonsalves the change, spite or terrorism??
…in elections
An investigation revealed that a team of Israeli contractors manipulated more than thirty elections around the world. Including “in South America”. Well, lucky for us, our hawk-eyed Minister of Security, Ramjattan, intercepted their Russian employee – and deported his sorry a55!!