Editor, my compassion for people – particularly my Guyanese people – is what has driven me to politics. I grew up in a rice farming family. In fact, my family still owns rice lands. In my teenage years I shifted from the active rice farming into real estate and other entrepreneurial ventures, which have served me in good stead over the years. However, I never lost my love for the people of the country of my birth. Given my early beginnings, I can identify closely with the farming community.
Therefore, you must understand my hurt and the deep burden of my heart as I watch the realities of what is unfolding along the sugar belt of Guyana. First it was the Wales Sugar Plantation that has closed and plunged that community into an economic conundrum. Wales was always a quiet village – my wife is from there – however, it has now become a virtual ghost town as the economic main-stay (sugar) has dried up. I live in Vree-en-Hoop, a mere 15-20 minuets drive from Wales. In my efforts to assist as best as I can, I often frequent that village and present myself as a sounding board for the bewildered residents.
But again my patriotic emotions took a beating as I visited the Canje area last week. There is talk there that their Estate might be closing. And the disorientation and anguish that are now befalling the Wales community, is being repeated with similar and even more widespread results, in Canje. Editor, how does a people who know only one way of living, grapple with the facts of losing their livelihood? After generations of sugar cropping, how does an entire village – with all the subordinate infrastructures – adjust to these harsh realities of a massive shift?
The United Republican Party (URP), has stated clearly that the responsibility for this sugar disaster falls squarely upon the PPP’s shoulder. They had 23 years to correct any negative effects that the 28 years of the Burnham regime might have caused. However, rather than plan with the sugar workers in mind, they stole billions of dollars, paid the sugar unions and executives fat-cat salaries, built their Prado Vills and invested in the Skeldon white elephant. However, the Granger administration must find a way of alleviating the tangible fears of these sugar workers. Race and/or political allegiances must be put aside!
At least the government can make a pledge to the people to award them portions of the lands for their personal use. Or the administration can use a sizable subvention to pay out the workers based on their years of service. (The Guyanese would not be opposed to this). Or indeed, the government can have some consultants sit with the workers and explain what can be done to avert this nightmare. I am sure that if a feasible plan is presented to the anxious sugar workers, they will be willing to listen and make the necessary adjustments. It is quit unfair to speak of closing these estates and not simultaneously talk about contingent plans for the livelihood of those who will suffer.
Editor, I have been also visiting the Town of Linden and the barrenness of a failed Bauxite Town is saddening. Poverty, lack and brokenness are visible everywhere in Linden. Linden and its people have been a forgotten Town. However, the collective fallout from the wide scale closing of the sugar estates will be multiplied several times over. It might even cost social unrest and worse.
The URP is calling on the government to show an unparallel level of political and humanistic restraint. If I am not directly subject to the impending suffering and yet I can be this perturbed by the realities, I can well imagine what those sugar farmers are going through, knowing that their futures are now uncertain. The level of the PNC-Coalition ability to lead in this matter is being keenly observed.
The politicians in Guyana have mastered the art of scaring the citizenry of this country into submission and brutalizing them. This autocratic, devilish, political bullism began way back in the 80’s when the Rabbi Washington folks used to be hired (or did they volunteer), to abuse political and philosophical opponents of the Government. In those days, members of the political oppositions were traumatized, heckled, beaten, some might even say, killed.
Then there was a lull in the obnoxious behavior when Mr. Desmond Hoyt became the President. In fact, it was Mr. Hoyt who jailed the wicked, murderous, Rabbi for the atrocities done at the political behest of the then dead dictator.
Then the government changed and the PPP realized winsome the effects of brutality and scare tactics. And before long it was rebranded; PPP style. GRA became a tool; the police force got involved; the phantom squad was notoriety. All these were used by members of the ruling party to scare and brutalize those who dare speak out against the Guyana monarchy. Then we had the feces brigade – ask Freddi Kisson – and worst. Waddle, Shaw, Crum-Ewing, and many others, all dead, murdered. Everyone knows the intellectual authors but yet they remain free. Where is Desmond Hoyt when the country needs him?
We all heard the recorded threatening of the former PPP Attorney General. He spoke candidly and directly of having his henchmen walk into the Kaieteur News Paper and shoot and kill at will. He denied it was his voice but his own collogues, including Dr. Vidya Persaud, correctly identified him. She and others did not focus on his murderous threats. Rather, they took offence based on what he said about the female subject in his vile rant. Yet he was never sanctioned, reprimanded or justifiably fired.
As fate would have it, the very abusive former AG happened to be in court with the current alleged abusive AG, when some things were said. What was said was so offensive that a reputable Judge was made to vacate the seat in his court, without the formal adjourning of the case before him. We might never really know what was said that day. However, the former AG is claiming that a murderous threat was made against the Judge. If that is a lie (and you really can’t trust these politicians), then Mr. Nandlall must know that he is opening a can of worms.
What Mr. Naldalall has done, is peal back the old wounds of the brutal Burnham regime, where fear stalked the nation. If he is lying, then the former AG must know the kind of mental aversion that some would engender against the PNC, based on this claim. And if he is lying, then the current AG, Mr. Basil Williams, need indeed to sue Mr. Nandalall for a sizable amount.
However, if Mr. Nandalall is speaking the truth and AG Williams is lying, then what we have unfolding is a direct reflection of the former PNC days, when threats, abuses and victimization were the order of the day. Either way, the notion of fear is in the air and both sides of the political divide; the PPP and the PNC, have used it for so long that they must know that the Guyanese people can be controlled by fear.
The leadership of the United Republican Party (URP) take this opportunity to again point out the similarity of those two parties. Neither of them has clean hands in this regard. They have long repressed and victimized the hapless people of Guyana. And left to their own device, they will continue in this vein.
The URP is asking President Granger to show leadership and approach this matter with decisive deliberation. Either publically rebuke Mr. Nandalall for stirring up these long held negativities about the PNC. Or rebuke Mr. Williams for being so careless with his choice of words that a sitting Judge would be forced to vacate his seat and court. Either way, it is clear that the political fear mongering that Guyana has long been known for, is alive an