Dear Editor,
In a previous letter to you, I highlighted the objective of certain members of ‘the developed world’ where the governance of this country is concerned. Theirs is the policy that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is not good for Guyana hence, they should not govern here. That message is very clear, and you cannot convince anyone to the contrary. That is their ultimate goal. But like I said, this duplicity and vile cunning takes place in various ways. In my view, the USAID Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) project is one of these such ventures. So let us delve into the course of events.
You would recall that prior to the LEAD project, that superpower carried out a blistering campaign against the elected Government, which stated in all certainty that the economy’s success was largely due to the Government’s involvement in the drugs and narcotics trade. This propaganda news spread like wildfire. Because to ever entertain the thought that a backward South American Republic like Guyana could ever make its way out of rank poverty into a success story was mind-boggling to those in the developed world. How could that be! That was the million-dollar question? Their claim is success could never have been credited through legal means. For them success had to have come through the drug trade. Hence this story hit the headlines like no other. Tales of WikiLeaks and other high-profile revelations were all thrown in this sordid scheme to show that the Government was indeed actively involved in the underworld. So, enough dirt was dug on the PPP/C to get them out of the way. Meantime, the Opposition People’s National Congress then, could not wait to get into power to incarcerate those guilty state officials. The PPP/C had not a ghost of a chance.
But there was one major hurdle to surmount and that was, the messenger, as well as that drugs message, woefully lack credibility and nothing by way of Government officials and drugs link could ever be confirmed. So, the only other alternative was to resort to the age old First World Trick, let us lecture them into the rudiments of good governance. Let us “teach these natives” how to do it, let us teach them how to govern themselves in a democratic environment. So, in my view, that ushered in the LEAD Programme.
This immediately found disfavour with The PPP/C Government because there was not much consultation, if any, to iron out the finer details of their programme. This was a highhanded approach by a superpower on a fledgling democracy without any just cause, this was downright bullyism! And to add insult to injury, that superpower never wanted the PPP/C to question or to ever address the ultimate aims, goals or objectives behind this so-called kind gesture of “good governance” scheme. What did that superpower hope to achieve at the end of the day is still a mystery. As a consequence, the Government was stuck in a shutdown and total shutout with the external bullies. That showdown only ended when the PPP Government was booted out of office.
Another sore point was that there was no need for LEAD; Guyana was on a peaceful progressive trajectory – our country has seen real growth continuously – so what’s the charge? Once again Guyana was on the developmental road and taking its rightful place in the sisterhood of Caribbean developers. To achieve continuous growth in a Guyanese democratic environment is a phenomenal task. So what was the problem? The answer comes back, there was none!
In short, all the actions of the First World, levelled against the PPP/C all boils down to one common fact – get the elected government out and install one that the superpower can control. The LEAD project was really a subterfuge. Ironically, whatever became of the LEAD programme? Is it still en vogue? Are they still blazing that “good governance” ideal? If not, why not? If they are not then it is a sad day for Guyana. Dear First World, we desperately need your good governance strategy especially in the light of such foolishness when a Head of State and his Finance Minister are gleefully admonishing this country’s graduates to get into the plantain chip and black pudding business. Pathetic! If this is not poor, horrible, governance, then what is?
In my next letter to you, I shall give an in-depth analysis of the topic “The fear of Jagdeo”. I wish you some delightful reading.
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
