…Trader?
Yup! That’s the name of a programme our Minister of Business has come up with to speed up the processing of our imports. To tell the truth, we wish he’d come up with something to speed up the processing of our exports – since this would mean foreigners are buying our “stuff” and willing to spend foreign money for it. And…you know…create that virtuous cycle of mo’ production and mo’ jobs and mo’ happiness all around.
But hey! We gotta take what we get, no? So back to the “Trusted Trader”, which – to be honest again – immediately struck your Eyewitness as an oxymoron. No – we’re not commenting on the Minister’s intelligence, OK? Just that the elements in his expression appear fatally contradictory. Quick now…have you EVER come across – or even read about – a trader who’s HONEST?
Let’s cut to the quick about a few things about business in general – and then trading in particular. Of course, we’ve heard about “honest businessmen”, haven’t we? But all that means is some businessmen’ll “honestly” interpret the rules of the game (and they do see business as a game!) to ensure they make the greatest amount of profit. And it’s because of this nonnegotiable rule that another rule has come down to us down the ages – “CAVEAT EMPTOR”: buyers beware. NOT “Buyers trust”.
And when it comes to the business of trading, you have to be on your guard in spades. While this is true everywhere – in Guyana this isn’t a theoretical issue – but an empirical one. And we’re not even thinking of the businessman who’ll “try a thing”. In Guyana, it’s the gatekeepers at Customs, or the airport or wherever there’s a gate who’ll put the squeeze on the businessman or Trader. And which one of these worthies will refuse?
Not because the propositioned businessman is necessarily of pristine puritanical purity – but because he’s caught in one of the oldest dilemmas when making a choice where others also are confronted with the choice. It’s called “prisoner’s dilemma”. Basically the businessman might as well cut his deal since he has to assume while HE may be a paragon of virtue – his competition certainly aren’t. And if he passes on the offer and his competitor doesn’t – he’s doomed.
So Minister Gaskin should quit blowing a gasket because someone suggested his “Trusted Trader” isn’t just an oxymoron – but in reality will simply increase corruption. We can just see all the big ones who’ve been greasing palms all along being signed up as “Trusted” because their copy books are free of blots.
And the new kids on the block have to “prove” themselves as their goods rot on the wharves.
…to rile up?
Your Eyewitness will be the first to admit that Prezzie’s avuncular demeanour and his obvious desire to do better are a positive development for politics in Guyana. But “demeanour” has to be matched at least by rhetoric – don’t you think? – to say nothing about that clincher called “action”. So it was quite difficult to read the following statement as Prezzie visited the community of Fyrish on the Corentyne. And if you know ANYTHING about the Corentyne, you’d know that it’s different ethnically than, say, Whim.
Said Prezzie – “When this community developed, it was the fruit bowl of the Corentyne. Even when Black Bush Polder was opened for the first time, they got their planting materials and their seedlings from Fyrish. But now we have seen that other communities which have benefited from the beneficence and generosity of Fyrish seem to be overtaking Fyrish in prosperity.”
And Black Bush Polder, you would also know is just like Whim. Isn’t Prezzie’s juxtaposition just a wee bit divisive?
…Minister of Security
Looks like the guests at 12 Camp Street really took to heart Minister of Security Ramjattan’s speech that was so full of empathy for their “sufferations”.
Shouldn’t he return and empathically ask them to stop roaming the yard and return to their rooms and better meals?
