Christmas-time politics
Frankly Speaking...
It's seasonal politics - in Guyana I mean. Even though the two - Christmas and Politics - shouldn't go together. But then, even the good Father Hardless would have to concede that the consequences of the birth of brown baby Jesus bordered on the political towards the end of the saviour's earthly sojourn. Against the back-drop of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) confrontations in Seattle, back in Cinderella's Essequibo, President Jagdeo heard of corrupt practices at the Regional level and spoke of investment incentives. He is now expected to be a conference hit in Miami as he prosecutes the case for international investment, in a Guyana ready to do business. I wouldn't want to believe that the opposition to the manner of the "Beal Deal" has a political agenda at this stage. Rather, I trust the opposers want the transparency that they were denied years ago, in the interest of Guyana's welfare. One can't fault that as it has to do with our very sovereignty. I'll return to that below this item. The season is witnessing the birth of new "movements". Keith Scott, once a Prime Ministerial hopeful with the Working People's Alliance (WPA) now heads his own National Democratic Movement (NDM). Ambition knows no limits as Keith, no doubt, wishes to enter Parliament at some stage of his life. Rumour has it that a well-known academic is backing him. Then there is the Ravi Dev-inspired Guyana Sugar Workers Union (GSWU) set to create division in the industry. Whether that's welcome or not will be the source of future pieces. The relaunching of the Trade Union Youth Movement (TUYM) and the muted appearance of Joey Jagan's GAP along with the usual TV mischief-making around the Public Service Reform plans, all combine to keep the local political pot boiling. Where is all this leading? Well I'm merely pointing out, perhaps to the CIVIC interests, that with issues such as Beal, Public Service Reform, House Lot Allocation and alleged Police Brutality, the old and new forces are looking for a common front to challenge the incumbents. GAP, GSWU, ROAR, NDM, TUYM, et al will ally themselves, behind strikes and demonstrations, and piggy-back on the PNC-led charges, with Guyana Is First and the Alliance For Guyana in the powerful rear. Are you up to the New Year challenges CIVIC? The world's youngest President might not be able to face it - all on his own.
How would they do it? Consider this remark from the government in Congress Place, Sophia: "At that meeting they provided some documentation and answered the PNC's initial questions about their proposals. Following that meeting we wrote Go-Invest and requested to be kept informed of the progress of Beal's discussions with the Government. Inspite of this, all information we have so far received has been through the public media - newspaper and television reports." Gracious! In your wildest imaginings could you contemplate the PNC arranging a meeting with the PPP and a potential investor in the pre-1993 era? (Sometimes I am wont to suspect that the PPP/C government does not at all mind this "over-inclusiveness" and "transparency" because they are confident that the others will never ever again assume office through the popular majority vote?) Or is it three cheers for the politics of Bullyism? Anyway to my question. How would a team of say, Joseph Tyndall, Bibi Narine, Asgar Ally, Sherwood Kendall, Tyrone Ferguson, Clarence Ellis, Winston Murray, Haslyn Parris, Eusi Kwayana, Hubert Wong and Ron Waddell negotiate with Beal Aerospace? How much transparency would those negotiators in their government(s) allow? At what stage? Just what would they have done? (Recall that many columns ago I had advised Beal's Mr Wade Gates that their project just won't happen here? Time will tell. Even as the Americans and their State Department begin to have grave doubts. Poor us).
Father and the Baby But seriously Father, in this season of peace and goodwill towards all men - even including me - I did not "attack" .... any "Christian community." Indeed I sought and seek insights into the divine mystery of the virgin birth. What's wrong with that in these days of the quest for truth? You should pity me for not knowing the grace and understandings of the mystery of your faith. "To believe is to have faith", you write. I don't quarrel with that but how dare you be judgemental to the point of condemning". In the spirit of your season, I wish you tolerance and the wisdom to really teach. Like say, Father Derek Goodrich of the Anglican persuasion...
Until...... 2. Don't be floored by failure. Vibert Parvatan quotes William Whewell: "Every failure is a step to success ... scarcely any attempt is entirely a failure." After all, temporary failure teaches us the mistakes to correct. That's positive. 3. Repeat: the West Indies will whip New Zealand and win new Judas friends. 4. Please C.N. Sharma, GPSU President, - be sorry for us. Let us have a reasonable Christmas. Hold over your "disruptions" and demonstrations 'till say, February 2000? 5. The New Millennium actually begins in January 2001. Meanwhile, send the Guyana Christmas Annual as great gifts to those who mean anything to you. 'till next week!!
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