Dear Editor,
I read with amazement the call for the president to lead the fight against the local narcotics conglomerates. I thought I was the only political humorist left in Guyana. Surely, the folks urging and challenging His Excellency cannot be serious; they have to be joking.
Let me be blunt but sharp: From all indications, the president has severely limited interest, and even less inclination to do something, anything, about the drug trade. Certainly he can be counted on to unload a torrent of forceful words, and put on his most solemn Sidney Greenstreet face to pontificate; and, just as certainly, he can be counted on to do very little, other than the occasional tokenisms where this business is concerned. Remember Drug Master Plan I, II, and X? Well, there is some more to remember.
This is the leader who with the straightest of blank faces defiantly stated that there is only a “little” corruption in this country; it is that same “little” corruption monster that narcotics and money laundering feed endlessly here. Which planet is this person living on? Better yet, which one did he come from? Also, this is the man whose party attracts secret investors by the squadrons, and which party perpetuates secret misconduct in almost all aspects of life domestically. How can anyone in possession of their senses press him, expect him, to take action in the biggest money maker of them all? How? Where do they think he is going to say all that money came from? It is the same money that acts as steroids for the local economy.
Further, this is the same person who is not reluctant to be present when businesses with questionable seed money open to the public. Even further, this is the man who, through a makeshift diplomat, stated that secrecy breeds suspicion. Years later, there have been layers upon layers of impenetrable secrecy from him and his ruling party. This is what the narcotics business thrives upon: compartmentalization and secrecy. Additionally, this is the big man that even similarly questionable characters proudly claim as their friend. They are neither lying nor exaggerating.Editor, let us cut this nonsense about the president leading this particular fight. The president is unable, the president is unwilling, and the president might as well be unconscious where this is concerned. Don’t expect anything. Nothing! It is too costly, it is too damaging, and it is definitely self-destructive.
In the future, I suggest that the jokes be left to me.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
