Dear Editor,
With reference to the headline, ‘Cases being built against drug kingpins -US embassy official’ (SN, June 26), this is the second instance in approximately two weeks that the US government, through a very high level representative, has showed its hand. It is neither accidental nor random. Rather, it is part of a deliberate strategy of tightening the noose and upping the ante against known targets by signalling to them that their days in the sun and mud are numbered.
The freedoms, protections, and virtual sponsorships of major drug business figures were long an open secret in this society. It was a major contributory factor to the political change now over a year old. This so troubled the superpower, and was so blatant, that the B and C people were quick to join the ranks against rank local monstrosities. The then incumbents refused to cooperate, and erected the rather specious hedges of unpersuasive rhetoric, insipid postures, and innocuous master plans. Nobody was fooled. Some of the boys had a merry time playing at governance; others had more fun pretending at commerce. The Johnnie Walker (that would be Blue) flowed, and was so plentiful that it might have been used for sanitizing.
Now, once again, Guyana is reminded that the Americans are serious, and determined to get their men from right here. There will be no more of this running around and convoluted reaching into Paramaribo and Port of Spain. At the same time, the new folks are warned: no games, no tricks. Thus, any loose lips, early warnings, and information sharing are sure to introduce some undesired chill to the currently warm government to government relationship. Highly compensated institutional sleepers should continue to slumber, if only for durability. They could be useful later.
As these forewarnings by ranking US officials translate to concrete action and warm bodies, Guyanese are in for some spectator ecstasy. Whole networks are likely to be exposed and to crumble. It is just as likely that some once influential people could be taken down, or at least implicated. It is my belief that some old convictions in US Federal courts had quid pro quos attached. It is why the sentencing date for a once well-connected real estate player keeps getting moved and moved. The bargaining is not delivering enough.
I further believe that the US is going beyond drug kingpins. It is going for the jugular. It is why some previously abusive swaggering men ought to go out and get neck braces. These might help to deflect or dull intended thrusts, and result in only temporary loss of face. Time and again, the Americans have had to prove something to a dismissive world: it is that they get their man. Since this is Guyana make that plural, as in men. The party is over. Guyanese wags might wonder: which one…
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
