Dear Editor,
It was very interesting to see that Mr Jagdeo recently endorsed Senator Obama a few days before the US presidential election, and even stated that if he could, he would have campaigned for President Obama. But while this is all laudable, it would be more tangible if Mr Jagdeo would campaign to bring the essence of American democracy (constituency politics, regular local elections, etc) and most importantly, the ideas of Obama, to this country. Walking the walk and talking the talk are two different things and Mr Jagdeo should try to follow the Obama example and be straight with the Guyanese people instead of pretending that everything is going well.
Mr Obama has assembled a highly qualified team to manage the affairs of his nation, not square pegs in round holes, including persons from his traditional opposition. This is a move which follows the policies of the great President Lincoln and documented in the book, A Team Of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. President Lincoln brought almost all of his opposition into his 1860 cabinet and even gave Federick Douglass, that great Afro-American emancipator, free access to the White House.
As he obviously admires and endorses Mr Obama, then Mr Jagdeo should take the lead and start the new year by bringing new and opposing blood into his administration from the opposition parties and civic society, while flushing out of his government all the square pegs in round holes.
A case in point: the current flooding in this country, after in excess of $700M has reportedly been spent to prevent this malady. Has anyone calculated how much revenue has been lost to individual businessmen and to the country as a whole − our money?
Has anyone calculated how much of a detriment to our children’s health and well-being this constant flooding is? Has anyone calculated how much time and energy is lost in fighting the actual flooding and its after effects? Has anyone calculated the effects of sagging spirits among the people when they have to add flooding to their daily travails of dealing with a failing economy?
Georgetown is our strength and our guidance centre for our dear country, but look at what is happening because of − as President Cheddi always said − square pegs in round holes.
Where are the pumps to relieve our dear city where all foreign visitors come to first? We have a river on one side and an ocean on the other and yet we can’t pump out the water polluting our city and we have spent $700M! What is going on? Square pegs in round holes, that’s what.
So, Mr Jagdeo should follow the example of Senator Obama and the great Abraham Lincoln in assembling a team of rivals to whom he listens and from whom he seeks guidance in − as my godfather Forbes Burnham said − moulding a new destiny and housing, feeding and clothing the nation by a new self-reliance.
Having ‘yes’ men around a real leader of a country is not the way to go, and President Obama is proving that every day in his appointments. Mr Jagdeo should follow the example of Barack Obama and that will bring unity and a new positive attitude in the peoples’ spirits; a legacy is not just building bridges, stadiums and airports, but also about fostering a new attitude and spirit in our people, one based on real democracy. Mr Jagdeo should start the new year by removing all the square pegs in round holes from government service, thereby paying true homage to President Cheddi, and giving the Guyanese people a real chance to finally say: ‘Yes! we can.”
Yours faithfully,
Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr)
that is true
he should follow obama.
starting with himself
President Elect Barack Obama listen to and talk to
people in the Republican and Democratic party, he also
said that he will meet with leaders that is not so friendly to
the United States of America.
President Jegdeo “DONT” do the above, that is why he reduce
and dispatach Henry Jeffrey to Paramaribo to do a low
level job my friend Joey.
Well Barky is not exactly replacing square pegs in round hole, so far he is replacing square pegs with square pegs. These comprise of a whole bunch of Clinton rethreads, and power brokers, who has dual American and Israeli citizenship.
Joe.
Joe…my friend, you sound bitter.
You a Republican?
Well if you are, I won’t be surprised.
Clinton had a most successful presidency.
George Bush?…that lame duck?
So far Obama has done marvellous work in putting together
the best and the brightest to work with him.
Fantastic job so far and flawless.
Now Joe…c’est le temps pour vous changer !
BTW Joe, Could you tell me how many Indo-Guyanese female police officers are currently serving in the GPF? This question goes unanswered by even the COP. I wonder why? ISNM
Carl V, I am never bitter about politics or politicians,I accept them for what they are, and please stop using that french crap on me, or I will do likewise and start useing Swahili.
Joe.
Take a closer look at the Jagdeo regime.
All the ministries are stacked with square pegs!
Hooray for Jagdeo.
Joey What has Obama done so far, apart from winning the election.
What were you expecting from him since he won
the elections last November 4th 2008 ????????
Mr Obama is “NOT” the President of the United States,
Mr Bush is the President, he Obama will be the President of the United States of America on the 20th of January 2009,
are you from MARS my friend eastbanner ????????.
I really don’t get it!! Everyone wants to be like Barak and they are calling others to imitate him!! So far all Americans have are promises.
Do people remember all the promises they got from Bush too?
People calm down, let Barak get into office, give him a year or so in office then see if you still want everyone to be like him!!!
So far he has done a fabulous job of granting favors. But he has also made some good appointments.
What everyone must remember is that there is CONGRESS AND SENATE to ‘brakes’ him up. Don’t forget those who ‘own’ the Federal Reserve Bank and all those Corporate giants who also ‘run’ things. Give him a year and then see if you still want everyone to be like him!!
Eastbanner. Great comment.Should I add, “helped 2 win?”.Joey. Good thoughts. Now give us the names of these schooled and experienced individuals who would fit these roles and position you have in mind.And also get their guarantees that they will never usurp their powers and roles, but be square pegs in square holes. Necessity may be the Mother of invention, but experience is the best Teacher.Regards.
As the winner of the U.S. general elections, Barack Obama is definitely enjoying the benefit of the doubt and the spoils, although he hasn’t, as yet officially, govern anything or anybody. This is simply, because he appears to be a pragmatist and not an ideologue. The world admire pragmatist, because reality and evidence are paramount.
President Jagdeo, on the other hand, has always governed Guyana as an ideologue, where support of a predetermine belief system (Marxist/Leninist) supersedes all reality or any new evidence on the ground. This is diametrically opposite to what Obama represents. Square pegs in round holes are a result of ideological restraints and the fear of pragmatism, for example paramountcy ‘ah we party pun tap an ga fu rule now bai’.
Everyone focuses on the “squareness” of the upper crust of the ruling party but fails to recognize that the government and the people of Guyana are a perfect match; an entire country of square pegs in round holes. Let’s be honest, the entire society is dysfunctional, not just the government and President. Where does one start the Square Peg removal process in Guyana? How about starting with the teachers who do not teach, the police who do not serve and protect, the soldiers who do not defend, the public servants who do not serve the public, and the mayors who do not manage their cities and towns, and then move up and down the chain to the rest of the population who provide less than 2 hours of work for 8 hours of pay? It is amusing that every idiot, crackpot, nincompoop, racist, and genius in the country wants to be president of Guyana. The lure of ultimately getting their hands on the keys to the public treasury remains extremely strong, much to the detriment of the Guyanese people. I am sure there are about twenty presidents in waiting to take over after the next elections.
I love this, best blogger of the day.
About 20 presidents in waiting in Guyana
and about 25 here in the United States and more
want to be presidents waiting in Candada and London
my friend Jonathan.
Jonathan, I love the way you put it. That is exactly what is happening. Everybody wants to be the Leader.
RL