What’s with… agri in Mudland?

Observing the Herculean efforts of the PPP government through the years – even before independence with Black Bush Polder etc… to raise agriculture to what we’ve been assured was its preeminent role in our economy because of our comparative advantage in that area – your Eyewitness thought of that ancient Greek fella named Sisyphus!! In his lifetime, Sisyphus made his living by tricking, murdering and robbing travelers!! Not so incidentally he also betrayed the secrets of the gods; tricked the God of Death into chaining itself and making all humans immortal, and tricked the queen of the underworld into releasing him from death. An all round “bad-maan”!!
For his punishment Zeus commanded that for eternity he was gonna have to push a huge rock uphill – but just before reaching the peak, the rock would roll down and he’d have to repeat the process!! Somewhere in Greek cyberspace, Sisyphus is still pushing that rock uphill!! So, what does this have to do with our agriculture?? Well that the various governments have been coming up with all sorts of plans, policies and programs to push our agriculture but somehow, we seem to have to be starting over again and again and again…!!
Take the Dutch that started our country…they tried coffee then cotton and then sugar – first upriver where Kofi did his thing and up the Essequibo. When the soil’s fertility gave out, they started all over on the coastland – by clearing out all those mangrove swamps and digging thousands of miles of canals by using enslaved African labour!! The Brits who took over focused on sugar – and made it viable by controlling the labour and markets. In the meantime, all other crops had to take a back seat – excepting that the Indentured Indians insisted on planting rice so they wouldn’t have to spend the 1 shilling daily they earned on this staple!!
When the PNC took over in 1964, they ruined these two industries by controlling them using party hacks!! Their exhortations for us to “Grow More” fell on deaf ears – since by banning other essential foods, there was no point in selling if there’s nothing to buy!! The PPP took over and has tried everything under the sun – and then some!! Remember the “alternative crops”?? Peppers, papaya, Pumpkins etc?? Remember the pig breeding programs that replaced Burnhams GNS pig farms? Remember the eminently pragmatic 1998 Sugar Modernization Plan?? The Tilapia farming by both the PNC and PPP? Etc…etc…
The past-due 25by25 Caricom food self-sufficiency goal is being pushed – but have we forgotten the Jagdeo Initiative of 2005 for Caricom that was supposed to achieve the same goal??
Before we try to move forward, we better look back as to what the earlier failures!!

…shooting the Don??
Well, the Donald has survived a second assassination attempt–this time escaping totally unscathed!! There are still questions on the first occasion in your Eyewitness’ mind!! How the heck did the shooter manage to get so close to the president on that stage!! Most speculate that members in the security services – miffed at his steering them into a different direction – might’ve been behind it.
Well, this time, the armed potential gunman – four guns and knives (for close up action?)!! – couldn’t even get into the room where Trump was attending the White House Correspondents Dinner – a roast!! All we know is shots were fired in such close proximity that all the politicians and reporters dove for cover!! Trump was spirited away!!
Seems the gunman’s a graduate in engineering and IT – bachelors and masters – from the prestigious Caltech Uni and was a democrat plus being a teacher good enough to earn a “teacher of the month” award!! Certainly, wasn’t no crazed Iranian…
Those who live by the sword… form causing

…the penalty
As your Eyewitness pecks away on this piece, he’s in blackout mode – he had to ensure he’s got data to communicate and his laptop’s battery’s charged!! Luckily, it’s daytime!!
So, what’s the culprit’s punishment??