How does North America, principally the USA and Canada, relate to the reality that Guyana has become a significant transshipment location in the narco-trade?

[Please believe me: three hours after writing the two paragraphs above, I came across the SN (Wednesday, March 3) front-page headline story related to this chosen topic - writer's note.]

Other questions that concerned citizens like me would have hovering in their minds include: how does the USA view official responses here to the trade? How many of the transshipment barons do the US authorities know? What quality of long-term assistance is the USA and others prepared to offer Guyana in the struggle against the trade and its consequences here? It is not that there are more questions than answers this time, it is that the answers are pregnant with some grave implications for some significant players in Guyanese society. (Mind you, Guyana's beleaguered society is not alone in this phenomenon.)

In the past - and I suppose even these days - the Americans, through their Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), would find that in Mexico and Colombia all their investigative work and findings would be compromised by corrupt, involved officials at crucial levels - from Police Commissioners to Judges. What have they found here, if they are here? From two good sources I have heard of either Americans or Canadians (1) allowing lower-level couriers to operate for extended periods, travelling in and out of Guyana, before pouncing to arrest them and (11) being quite upset with local senior police officials who did not act on intelligence given them because, allegedly, their own were involved.

Is it not reasonable to assume that the Americans, especially, would be concentrating on Guyana which has swiftly assumed significant status as a transshipment point? Being located plum between the manufacturing locations of South America and the lucrative North American market? Is it not reasonable to guess that the American DEA knows names of some big-fish transshipment barons here? Are they confident enough to tell our own police? I keep doubting that, despite Enrico's efforts, the local operatives behind the cocaine in lumber, the New York Big Bust and the Choo-Wee-Nam busts will be publicly revealed. Even if they are known and fingered, it seems that the cases are tough to prosecute, locally.

I am also forever intrigued that whether boxers, beauty queens, cyclists or foreigners are caught, even convicted - they never reveal the identities of the big fish, if indeed, they know. But could not the Americans, whose home is the world's foremost drug-user market help us more? I remember Cheddi Jagan telling them not merely to seize or fine our guilty planes at American airports but to help us find the drugs right here at Timehri International. Imagine the additional challenges to be presented whenever roads from Brazil and Venezuela become reality! Guyana will need all the anti-narcotics assistance that the Americans can offer.

Alas, fear is the key as sources are never revealed by the mules in the know. The new morality in Guyana, I'm told, is informed by the fact that the new generation accommodates the wealth instantly gained from the insidious trade, that the country's economy is actually bolstered by the underground narco-enterprise and that prominent citizens of all persuasions could be key players in the trade.

After writing most of the foregoing I came across the news of the US State Department's International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2003. It is defined that "the economic, political and social conditions in Guyana make it a prime target for narcotics traffickers to expand their illicit activities." No great revelation to some of us.

I expect that our numerous commentators will go to town commenting on and analysing the State Department's INCSR. As usual I'll leave that to our ever-present experts. I invite them to comment however on these two aspects, or opinions: (1) "the swearing in by the GPF of a reputed drug lord and several of his cohorts as special constables raises serious questions about the integrity of the force" and (11) Guyana's inefficient and antiquated legal system continues to hinder prosecution of drug offences. Go to town, analysts!

My friends would know that I've abandoned the concept and practice of beauty pageants long ago. I love the female human form. A little ashamedly I think I'm extremely carnal!

Yet I share the view of last Saturday's letter-writer Sis Shamane: "Backs are bare and legs are revealed and bosoms are accentuated and buttocks are compactly outlined and millions of people are given the right to stare, analyse and judge. Why must women be put through that? The concept is all wrong. Each contestant has already gone through diets and exercise and revealing and prancing and training in her own country. Then she meets with others from around the world. The bunch is 'shaken', and five women are chosen above all the rest. Then the five are 'graded' best, second best, third best, fourth best…"

And this is just to thank Dave Martins for his e-mail on judging song-contests. I'll reply to you Dave, but believe me, I'm quite familiar with the criteria for various contests. All I'll let slip here is this: I'm quietly "arrogant" enough to think that my efforts resulted in local "calypso" judges resisting the urge to be overwhelmed by the audiences' views only!

1) Yes, the Mashramani festival must be reviewed with a view to widening its scope. The time has come

2) From the David Hinds perspective: "From the Shiprider Agreement to the US request in relation to the International Criminal Court, the PPP government has been a willing and ready tool of US foreign policy in the Caribbean, even to the detriment of Caricom solidarity. Finally, Mr Corbin has over the last year fallen in line; hence his regular sojourns to Washington. The evidence is clear." Do you agree?

3) The removal of Haiti's Aristide leaves a bitter taste in my political mouth.

4) As the Greece Olympics approach, the Movement of Greek prostitutes is being energised.

5) Heard about carnival promotions super soca-calypso link-up on the MSG in Linden last Saturday night? Way to go!

Until next week!