Dear Editor,
I am hoping against hope than peers will come to some level of understanding, some keener place of perception. There are these creeping indications of disenchantment from America that are either over local heads, or casually ignored by Guyanese, especially PPP/C supporters. I warn of turbulence ahead.
In no particular order, I single out a few of the more recent nuanced developments, to make my point. America does not like where this country is at, what goes on here. The President and Vice President are the only drivers around, and they leave too much hanging, too much to be undesired, which is putting things nicely. Both leaders are hurting from the sum of their wrong actions, many misdeeds; when they do so, they hurt trusting, hopeful Guyanese. I interpreted the early official sharing by Her Excellency, the U.S. Ambassador, with Mr. Aubrey Norton to be of some significance, besides courtesy protocols. It should be remembered that their meeting occurred while Mr. Norton’s leadership, place and role were still unsettled. Mr. Norton didn’t invite himself, nor initiated the gathering that took place. I perceived a signature statement from the ambassador, one which astute PPP/C leaders should mull.
More recently, USAID came out of the blue with the startling: a call for power sharing on oil, and more political parties. If I were to mention power sharing, it would a non-negotiable heresy, from which only stoning satisfies. Regarding more political groups, that’s a no brainer, as they will be, but beyond that no more. That is, non-competitive in tussles, non-existent in recognition, and non-performing in the trust department. There is a history of this, but the people of USAID must justify their presence. Focusing on power sharing, it was noticeable that the day that USAID revisited and resurrected that political blasphemy, the PNC came up with its own one: no nomination from it to the NRF; hence no contribution, no participation. This oil is trouble; but prophets have been dismissed from time immemorial. Dismissed is when they are lucky. But with a society so bitterly polarized, oil could serve as the spark, the Sarajevo incident which make the house of decayed straw collapse.
American disappointment runs high, blends with disgust, which recent postures confirm. They were not random. They keep trying with the PPP/C (VP); struggling with Government (VP); standing with the man in his corner (VP). Americans lose each time with an incorrigible, a simpler word is failure. Chronic. The Americans are neither hoodwinked nor swayed by empty rhetoric. The President is dismissed within the confines of diplomatic etiquette, diplomatic finesse. They hold their noses. Wash thoroughly immediately after. When it is the other one, the soaps are stronger, stains and stench heavier, more pungent. They helped in 2011, removed in 2015, restored in 2020, yet nothing is learned by either party or leader. Somebody close to them, better talk to both of them. I repeatedly warn, but is ignored. No offense taken, but Guyanese are vulnerable.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
