…to create distractions
In Guyana, politics isn’t of your usual, garden-type variety: it can get downright nasty and even deadly. So those who use all those fancy political terms like “deliberative democracy” and “transparency” and such like, more often than not, just elicit snickers from the politicians. And those of the citizenry who take time to think about what’s been going on (and down) over the last half a century.
But this “throwing shade” business (Guyanese in the countryside call it “throwing talk”) is just a spineless tactic to make snide remarks against enemies hoping it sticks. Even though the thrower knows he’s just trying a (nasty) thing. The only good thing about throwing shade is unbiased onlookers know when the stuff’s being shovelled and don’t take it seriously. For folks who have standards however, it’s the thrower of shade who undermines his credibility. So, why do politicians keep on throwing shade?
Take Khemraj Ramjattan (and as Rodney Dangerfield would add: “Please!). He sidles up to the Muckraker and announces that several PPP officials, including Ministers, will be charged criminally by SOCU for their involvement with NICIL-related fraud. But refuses to identify the individuals he claims to have the dope on! This is nothing more than a lowdown (down low?) attempt to smear the PPP leadership when the latter has the APNU/AFC Government on the run.
Not to mention the non-partisan citizenry of Georgetown who’re rebelling against the PNC leadership of their City – and the studied silence on same by Central Government. This outpouring of elements into the streets that would normally remain behind their counters has shocked Ramjattan and company. The mouse has turned and is roaring. And they’ve attracted a host of the APNU/AFC faithful.
Now because of the nature of the divided politics in Guyana, Ramjattan is playing a more insidious game. And your Eyewitness will tell you why. It has to do with who Ramjattan knows he’s fooling. Half of those getting his message aren’t “unbiased”. All studies show that – especially in politics – folks hear what they want to hear and the APNU/AFC supporters lap up accusations such as those hurled by Ramjattan. It hardens their already fixed mindset. Ramjattan’s preaching to a choir that’s already opened their hymn book to his page.
He’s signalling Government supporters in the streets to be careful of hanging out with “PPP types” who’ll soon be prosecuted and jailed. He’s also riling up the faithful in case they have to intimidate the Judiciary with some marches of their own.
But lastly, this little man, stripped of all power, wants to pretend he’s “in the know”. It’s sad and pathetic, isn’t it?
…at the Government he helped elect
In the words of one Guyanese wag, Anand Goolsarran is another “shad, shad situation”. The man invested so much energy towards bringing down the PPP Government – even as one from “the PPP’s constituency” – he fully expected he’d end up with a Minister wuk. Didn’t the AFC types like Nagamootoo and Ramjattan make out like the bandits they were?
Ahhh…but he forgot those fellas had things in writing. And though that “writing” has been subverted, they still have their Minister wuk – if not the power. So Goolsarran ended up with some not-so-small-change for some audits – including that of NICIL. Still hoping to wrangle a Minister wuk, he wrote the conclusion and recommendations of the audit and THEN looked into the books!! While he mightn’t have cooked the books, he certainly cooked Brassington’s goose! But still No Minister wuk.
So he applied to be CEO of the Procurement Commission – and didn’t even get a reply! Now he throws shade on the entire procurement process. Sour grapes shade?
Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!
…on IDB
Finance Minister Winston Jordan threw shade at the IDB, implying the Bank’s 60% decline in approving Guyana’s loans, was the IDB’s fault.
And not the economy he’s steered into a tailspin!
