The Covid Colonel’s Force: Necessary, sinister

Another PNC “Master Class”, but 10 Questions

Some suggestions for His Excellency’s charm offensive

[So most of you still have absolute confidence in the GECOM Iron Lady’s long count? Ho-ho.]

Oh my, kindly ignore that irrelevant opening sentence above. Because this is another brief commentary on the retired Lt Colonel’s Covid “Task” Force – its role, functions and “development” in facing off the Corona Virus Disease plague here and its potential for contributing to the demise of Democracy in this Green Land of Guyana.

Repetition for emphasis – with three/four additional observations and warnings: by now it’s  not difficult for even the blind amongst us to see just why His Excellency deployed the Covid Colonel Joe to marshall other former army gents to man the  entity earmarked to confront and manage the Covid-19’s threating attack on our hapless populace. For besides the Corona virus, strategic tactics could be employed to subdue the other potential virus of defiance against electoral thievery.

Since Chairperson Minister Volda’s Health Ministry has seen “subordinated” to the primary task of frontline medical prevention, detection and care the Task Force fellows are still free to implement – and exploit – provisions of the ancient Health Ordinance; from restricting certain freedoms to limiting the Iron Lady’s Counting Stations to approving aeroplane flights to using the Ordinance as cover to control lawful gatherings.

The sinister nature of the Covid Colonel’s Task Force lies in the fact that its political agenda is not-so- discreetly masked by its collaborative control of the Health Ministry and the un-bribable Commissioner’s Police Force. Like him or not, hand it to His Excellency – an officer and a gentleman and a smiling autocrat who makes his mentor, the departed Kabaka, proud. As in China these days a Covid attack-agency is poised to be an instrument of repression. And only the PNC Chair Lady and the colonel would tell us just when our portion of the pandemic is at an end. Poor us.

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Another PNC Masterclass – and questions

I suspect that a significant number of my readership, appreciates my simple layman’s style. So bear with me as I record more repetition because I know it is useful for the righteous amongst us to be reminded. Constantly.

Recall me opining that students of political science and local politics have benefited from His Excellency’s PNC’s first Masterclass in ignoring and invalidating a no-confidence motion. Certainly a first in the Region not given to full-out dictatorship. Aided and  abetted by drawn–out litigation, a few delayed and curious judicial decisions and a leaderless though compliant Elections body, the Opposition and more than half of the populace were shown how a no-confidence motion was made subservient to His Excellency’s own Election Date.

The March election has now ushered in a Second Masterclass of political bullyism engineered by a fraudulent vote count by GECOM surrogates, interventions by a once-friendly compliant CARICOM and an agreement for a recount of votes long cast. Frankly Speaking, loyal tribal followers of His Excellency have cause to admire his use of Covid-19, the “Total National Defence” Force and his GECOM foursome and their secretariat to initiate an obvious ploy to perpetuate power (lust) and oh! how we are helpless as a people!

Even underground sabotage cannot work in this fragile democracy and economy as all would suffer -when retaliation is visited upon perpetrators. And would international sanctions be specific?

But here are just a few repeat questions for all to ponder: (a) why did Comrade Harmon suggest swearing–in His Excellency based upon thousands of fraudulent PPP votes? (B) Did not GECOM’s comrade magical mathematician Mingo ignore a court order, contemptuously? (c) Why did GECOM chairperson Iron Lady not sanction comrade Mingo at all? (d) What does the ERC think about GECOM’s staff composition? (e) Should new party leaders   Jonas and Shuman be deemed PPP allies? (f) Shouldn’t we congratulate Minister Felix who worked alongside the late Minister Gajraj, went to purchase weaponry for his Police Force and went into Buxton to reassure frightened villagers for holding his own amongst His Excellency’s former GDF Officers? (g) Is Chairperson Cde. Volda a part-time GECOM operative? (h) Would there not be unused ballots at some Polling Stations on Election Night? (i) Did the ballot papers not have secret security features so that fakes could be easily identified? (J) As a Dr Arif Bulkan has cautioned, would the Colonel’s Covid Force “normalise” and perpetuate “exceptional powers”? Ponder my friends, ponder.

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Some “charm offensive” suggestions

After the pre-elections (March-month) photos of His Excellency “taking a knee” in a few churches, then his rare media “appearance” two/three Sundays ago across from the Iron Lady’s long count, a senior acquaintance advised me that all that was/is part of His Excellency’s “charm offensive.” Showing a human “softer loving” side with wife, lady comrades and school children.

Respectfully from me a few other suggestions for His Excellency: (a) allow three wedding ceremonies at the State House Benab this June (b) give four UG  scholarships to teenagers with first names Kishore and Bibi (c) attend and squat at a service at City Mayor Ubraj’s Mandir (d) arrange photo-ops with all female cabinet ministers including Cdes  Garrido and Hastings (e ) Endorse treatment and medical care at local hospitals, encouraging all ministers to support. (f) Arrange election victory parties at State House Congress Place and D’Urban Park. Invite me, A. Arthur Fenty.

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Hear me ponder aloud…

● 1) I’m often impressed by the PPP’s Anil Nandlall on legal issues. But I now call on PNC Comrade Aubrey Norton to take on Sanjeev Datadin regarding recount matters.

●  2) Are the millions paid to American lobbyists by the PNC and PPP paying off?

● 3) Quote from Ole Sawackee Hammie Green: “Elections and politics are not the business of angels and saints”.

● 4) I leave the police murder of George Floyd and the wrecking of Covid America’s economy to others. But Floyd’s brother’s message was interesting: “Protest peacefully. Educate yourself to vote!”

Til next week!

(allanafenty@yahoo.com)