– Syria – and our humanity
One of my shorter anxieties today, this is derived from two of my lifelong intrigues with politics and governments, patriotism and (variations of) democracy.
Since I entered my teens after grandmother would take me to Bourda Green political meetings in the fifties, I began to wonder just why couldn’t our best brains from all parties co-operate fully to provide the best government and guarantee national harmony and development.
By my mid–to–late–twenties, I was made to accept that in our Western version of “democracy” things do not (cannot) work in my “unified” manner: One–Party States endanger criticism and monitoring; absolute authority, without opposition checks–and–balances, breeds absolute autocracy; a (political) opposition is a virtual necessity, I was taught.
Secondly, I was and am still intrigued by critics and analysts finding fault and indeed, exposing mischief and incompetence after the fact. Whether the government listens and accept, or not, I feel that these criticisms and warnings and advice should be issued and recorded long before the actual disasters and crises caused by those in power.
Which is what critic Christopher Ram claims he does. And which brings me to the gist of this Brief.
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Are these critics wrong? Mischievous?
Quite often these days, I’m impressed, persuaded by the exposes, the uncovering, the predictions, with regard to governmental mismanagement and corruption, incompetence and cover ups – alleged and/or plausible.
I try to detect “usual”, wicked opposition agendas from genuine, authentic criticism and analysis in the people’s interests. As time passes, after critical commentary, I assess accuracy. Here are a few cases to illustrate my “wonderment”.
One: attorney–accountant–opposition adviser, Christopher Ram recently showed where and when he warned the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) that, in 2009, after ignored Actuarial Reviews of 2001 and 2006, the NIS incomes, expenditures, even reserves would be depleted if certain recommendations were not heeded. Now when Mr. Ram describes the responses of NIS Chairman Luncheon and the Finance Minister, I wonder once more why informed advice is not even considered. Is it merely because the critic seems only “oppositionist” and not genuinely constructive? Can the minister, for example, prove Ram wrong now?
Two: (I won’t bother with the government’s seeming arrogance in not commenting on alleged insider intelligence which caused some to run and withdraw their Clico savings and investments whilst others still suffer.) Instead, I ask again: Is the other attorney Nigel Hughes accurate when he published that former President Jagdeo “while in office, acquired more wealth than any other President in independent Guyana”? Of course, the implication was that the acquisition of wealth was questionable. What’s the truth here? Is Mr Jagdeo, even now, entitled to that comfort from our taxes?
Three: Could anyone counter daily letter-writer M Maxwell when he implies that Jagdeo was far from “a good economic steward” during his twelve-year rein, seeing that Guyana’s GDP annualized growth rate was merely 2.23% under Jagdeo, which could be proven to be easily worse than under previous administrations, including those of the Jagans? Cannot Minister Ashni Singh refute this one?
Four: I’ll stop at the three above, but just note that the Auditor General is probing the big projects like Amaila, Hope Canal hopefully Indian Specialty Hospital et al. I wonder again: what happens if he finds irregularity and wrong-doing? Correction, Conviction or Cover-Up?
Also, not every critic seeks merely to discredit. Or to crave “positions”.
As a concerned citizen my heart bleeds when I read of and actually witness mismanagement of road-construction, land-fill sites, stellings and other infrastructure.
The millions wasted on that massive building at High and Princes in the capital, for example could have provided toilets and accommodation for nurses and teachers at Mahdia, Baramita, Pakera and even a few rural locations. How do the two Local Government Ministers – and their own female relatives, respond to that?
As I say shame, I live in hope that the government would respond positively to genuine responsive criticism. And its representatives spend a week with the NCN/GINA interviewers – in Region One!
Syria – The blood,
the bodies…
The “International Community” “allowed” millions upon millions to die in Rwanda, Darfur and Cambodia, before coming up with statements of regret. (Everyone seem to await US responses first?)
Oh my, the humanitarian soul in me causes these few lines as I witness, via TV, the massacres in Homs, Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria as this Assad is allowed to slaughter wantonly his own. Women and infants he calls “terrorists” or view as collateral in the context of a warped mind which sees controlled murder as a legitimate weapon to retain dominion.
This man is killing more than Mubarak, Saddam or Gaddafi, as the world debates Middle Eastern “policies” and the implications of the Arab Spring, the Arab Autumn and the Arab-Mind. Say something Guyana Government! Do something world!
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Would you believe?
*1) Many who acquire high-income residential plots in Government Housing Estates, leave them untouched for months. Why? Awaiting loans? Have many houses already and waiting to speculate, whilst others suffer?
*2) Besides the Commission of Inquiry, let’s monitor the Government’s commitments a la the Linden Agreements.
Though I could never agree with the Linden Protestors paralyzing the rest of the country and some acts of extortion, I feel pressure should be brought to ensure speedy compliance
*2b) The Opposition was “silent” on the huge arms find in Lethem. Just look at that deadly cache! With the alleged Roger Khan linkage, perhaps comments would be now forth-coming?
*2c) Coming next Friday – Sugar, the truth and America in the Middle East.
*3) What are your ideas for Mashramani 2013? Look out for a grand launching on Friday 19th next.
And come Mash in February, let’s go up the Berbice and the Canje to re-live the Rebellion of 1763!
*4) Yes Citizens, they’re planning a most meaningful Mash next year.
*5) Rally round the West Indies – With At Least Two Guyanese in the team, right?
Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
