Hold something back for emergencies
Kaieteur News – The PPP government has worked out and settled for a strategy that serves its interests well. But, as we know, when governments around the world decide what is favorable for them, then the last dollar can be spent which leads to what is either unhealthy or costly to the largest number in the population. The latest example of the PPP leadership strategy is to hold a back up card to protect party and the bosses and make everyone look good that comes in the form of Taiwan.
There were official reports of clearance for Taiwan to set up shop here. Then, after a host of sharp inquiries, a sudden surfaced. First, the Taiwanese were coming here, then they were not. This was not in large part due to the severe pressure and reminder that brought the senior Chinese diplomat (Chinese mainland) to Guyana, as presented to Guyanese leaders about the errors of their thinking and ways. There was a quick retreat with the lame excuse of a communication failure issued by the Foreign Ministry. Not entirely happy with the noisy empty nature of that “miscommunication” statement; the government has now offered what it believes to be its ace card.
That is, the Cabinet did not approve that Taiwan office here. In other words, a rare moment of abandonment of collective responsibility occurred, under this guise of ‘the Cabinet was not involved’, and the decision was therefore premature and uncontrolled. That is absolutely beautiful, and the newcomer, the Hon. Hugh Todd, hanging out to dry. Apparently, Guyana’s Foreign Minister operates in a vacuum of his own making, and for that he is made to be the fallen man. Now, who would believe such patent nonsense? Where everything in the new PPP government (just like more recent ones) is completely under the control of those, and one, who doesn’t take kindly to mavericks; which leaves no initiative, and nothing, to chance. Apparently, the gods were not appealed to, and another sacrifice was in order. The Foreign Minister was specially made to accompany the bill.
As another example of the sincerity of the present government, there were the disposals of those highly controversial oil blocks, Canje and Kaieteur. For the longest time, PPP government leaders were a mother. They were missing in action, and one after another ran for cover and carried out long deeds disappeared. But, as always and as part of this government’s current modus operandi, efforts continued to find a way out of the corrupt Canje and Kaieteur gutters it had dug up behind the curtains. Soon enough, the weirdness and what could only be called the height of brazenness. The reason was ‘no laws were broken’ and there was nothing corrupt about what happened. Now, if that was the case at the outset, then why stumble all over the place, as some feel ashamed of drunkenness, with one being spoken sometimes, and most spontaneously, pretending after the other ? Why the many and enduring secrets over those rich oil blocks? Why take the roundabout route to get back to the terminal, which was along Exxon?
But as in Taiwan’s surprising and unimaginable development, time had to be bought to find the right shoe to fit the situation. Thus came the equivalent of the ‘no laws broken’ insanity defense. The leaders of the PPP and PNC, in their unassuming forms, are well aware that they have enough blind and trouble-free citizens for supporters, who would believe any garbage pushed down their throats, no matter what how dirty and smelly it is. They know they can escape anything, which is why they are participating in the farce and the corruptions that are now the norm. The unbeatable trump card is to say anything to the nation, and almost half the population in the corner, including so-called intellectual and professional ones, are guaranteed to lack the ethical courage to go against them.
The latest example of holding back something to serve as a cushion and cover when needed is the offshore gas project in Wales. Out of the blue, Wales was circulated, as the place and the best. No reason or relief was put before the public. Now, the nation is learning about four studies and why the previous rankings are now thought to be less than optimal. It seems as if the leadership of the PPP, which was held in the poorest esteem by the few still thinking and conscientious Guyanese, had to give itself space to think about how to think of a rabbit out of its huge hat of tricks. Months ago, Wales started to get attention. Despite questions, concerns, even anger, nothing was forthcoming. That is, until the backup camouflages could be hidden and scrutinized for hidden holes, before being given the green light for public display.
There is something subtle and convincing about all of this. It is not of clean governance or ethical, reliable leadership. This is not how principled people in any background behave. This is certainly not how men elected to serve the nation, who wish to be considered morally and principally, should assemble themselves. Silence is illuminating, and in Guyana, it gets a lot dirty. He who longs for is lost, for he has just pulled himself up and shown the world what he really is. The defensive trumps held up for trotting in public do not reduce chronic distrust; they intensify them. If the thing was right all along, then why stay in the dark for so long?