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Death brings out the startling Sep 05, 2024 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column Kaieteur News – The Latins gave us the immortal de mortuis nil nisi bonum (of the dead nothing but good is to be said).  I completely agree.  Why tarnish those who have moved on, even when they may have left less than the best in their wake.  In the instance of Guyana’s most recently departed attorney general and minister of justice,, it will be extremely difficult, a test for me. GHK Lall I congratulate President Ali for his extraordinarily effusive tribute to a Guyanese now no more.  I also congratulate the Hon Attorney General, Mr. Anil Nandlall, for his ringing eulogy of the fallen.  According to both Dr. Ali and Mr. Nandlall, he was an illustrious son of this terrible soil that sows such grand substances into the DNA of its children, living and dead.  Before proceeding, I would be the poorest example of inconsistency, maybe even stifled honesty, if I did not extend a hand of recognition to PPP General Secretary and former head of state, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo for wisely and majestically holding his peace in this instance of cascading and coruscating applause for the departed one.  Sometimes, the most scintillating eloquence is silence, and I believe that Mr. Jagdeo outdid himself by not saying a single word. True, we must herald to the heavens our heroes.  But they must be heroes through and through, no matter how flawed, especially when the going is at its most perilous.  For what is a hero, if when the day is grim and the hour is tragic, that, like Achilles of Grecian lore, he sulks in his tent, takes himself out of the reckoning in the hour of greatest challenge.  The PPP has made a living, made a killing, and a finely purring global machinery of elections rigging for the 28 long years that they lasted in the first long, uninterrupted season.  And if there is one area of governance and democracy in this country about which the PPP is 150% or 1000% right, it is rigging.  Memory is faded nowadays, but if I remember well, there was a man, a stalwart, an effervescent and irrepressibly luminous presence, around those rigging proceedings.  It would have taken an infant or the infantile in adults not to have known what was at work, and what were the results of that harrowing era in Guyana’s history.  We cannot continue to condemn Burnham and spare the others.  Any other. Why, even former president David Granger came in for his blows about his role around ballot boxes when he was a young soldier. So, if LFS Burnham, Hammie Green, and David Granger are hauled barefoot over the incandescent coals and scalded with an inch of their respective departed and ongoing existences, then the least that there can be is some consistency in this time of hushed tones and solemn syntactical sweetness. I will recognize any man for his achievements, and the fallen former Attorney General and Minister of Justice had many achievements laced with dazzling splendor.  Instead of coming down heavily on him for sharing and participating in, and then condoning, a great fraud and tragedy on Guyana, I simply say that if the run of the PNC was cut short, and in which he ranked so highly and powerfully, then where would he have been.  What would he have been able to leverage, use as his calling card, to reach the heights that he did, since there would have been nothing?  Cheddi Jagan’s dispatch into the political wilderness certainly paved the way for the ascendancy of many a man and woman of Guyana.  On the back of rigging, some ended up riding a stairway to a heaven of their own making, the product of their ambitions, and of neither hearing nor seeing nor knowing.  I am trying to be kind here because it is the dearly departed involved.  I acknowledge it is a struggle.  But there is awe at the distinctive genius it takes to represent two sides in a subsidiary deal, which still results in the home side coming up short.  How’s that for extraordinary skill and craftsmanship? It’s why there is a special regard for President Ali and Attorney General Nandlall and their easy conscience with what they have made a custom to condemn 24/7.  To denounce the outcome is one thing, but I suppose that death spares those who were once in the middle of its celebrations, while their countrymen and women languished wherever they could find succor.  Almost half the population lost to emigration. Almost all the best and brightest lost in the flight of precious human capital. It is why Guyana is the country it is today.  It provides evidence of the quality of what is left, with which there is this great, endless, seemingly futile grappling that leads nowhere but shouting in each other’s faces. Thus, as surprising as it is, and stilted, if not overdone, as the tributes appear to be, it is still a positive to hear the lilting cadences of those practiced in the fine arts of filtering circumstances for their own purposes, and saying what suits the moment.  No matter how much such clashes with was raged about uninterruptedly.  If it were not for death, then what would be left for us to discover the better angels inside.  To a man gone, a Guyanese of standing, perhaps some peace and profoundness will be his wherever he lands.  He usually did. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) Related Similar Articles

No checks on our oil Sep 05, 2024 Editorial Kaieteur News – For years this newspaper has sought answers regarding how much oil ExxonMobil is deducting for its operations as per the lopsided Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed with that American company. It was refreshing to see International Lawyer, and activists Melinda Janki raising this issue at a recent webinar, where she mentioned that she had sought the answer to this very question from President Irfaan Ali several years ago, but received no answer. Article 11.9 of the PSA states: “The Contractor shall have the right to use in any Petroleum Operations as much of the production as may reasonably be required by it therefore and the quantities so used or lost shall be excluded from any calculations of Cost Oil and/or Cost Gas and Profit Oil and/or Profit Gas entitlement.” However, the country does not know how much oil is being taken out by Exxon to run its operations. Janki during a webinar on Sunday pointed out, “The Petroleum Agreement says that Exxon, Hess and CNOOC can take as much oil as they need for the operations. So when they produce the oil, they can take, each one of them, Exxon, Hess and CNOOC, each one of them can take as much oil as they say they need for their operations.” In 2021, Janki said she wrote to President Irfaan Ali requesting information on how much oil was being deducted by the companies; however, she never received a response.  She said, “Either he doesn’t know or he doesn’t want to say, but this oil does not get counted, it’s just gone and the rest of the oil is divided into cost oil and profit oil, so if you think of the oil, you have got three things- one, the free oil that’s taken off the top, we don’t know how much that is and it doesn’t count and then the rest of the oil which is divided into something called cost oil and profit oil.” It must be noted that all other oil production related data have been made public by the government including how much gas was flared, used for fuel and re-injected, along with the quantity of produced water, however when it comes to how much ExxonMobil is deducting for its operations has been a state secret. It is the same carefree approach that has been taken regarding putting our own meters at the oil pumps being operated by ExxonMobil in order to monitor offshore oil production. So we ask today which leader would be able to look the Guyanese people in the face, and say that there is no move to get meters to keep ExxonMobil honest with actual oil production numbers, but the best is being done?  What is it that we at this paper do not know that can justify having no meters of our own to monitor what ExxonMobil is doing offshore? In the best of circumstances, when there is a partner that has proven to be one that is credible, a chance may be taken in Guyana not having its own meters looking out for us, barrel by barrel. It is ironic that the PPP/C Government has such discomfort, so many anxieties, with citizens clamoring for better from the nation’s oil patrimony, but it does not manifest a single concern about what ExxonMobil could be doing in the oil fields 120 miles from shore, and those in control don’t know the whole story.  What could be made of this standard?  Could it be that the Government of Guyana, of the Guyanese people, is in bed with ExxonMobil, and the tricks that it is pulling on this country with the amount of oil produced?  Who are leaders listening to, being coached by, in slowing down getting vital meters? What the government and its leadership team are doing does not make sense, nor give much comfort, when there is clear awareness of the kind of operator that ExxonMobil is.  The history of this American supergiant is one that is checkered, and its own records have often put it to shame, before regulators and the courts.  Right here, ExxonMobil has been a prime exhibit of the partner from hell. ExxonMobil has been about anything and everything that richly benefits itself, and what suffocates the promise of this country. Starting with an oil contract that is unspeakable, so reprehensible it is, ExxonMobil has been about pulling every trick in the book to get one over Guyana.  A genuine partner does not operate in this greedy manner, not even in the cutthroat world that is about skimming secretly, and profiting perversely at the expense of those who are called partners.  ExxonMobil has gone to great lengths to gouge Guyanese of their oil dollars, as the US$7.3 billion audit of Liza 1 and 2 projects has revealed.  The US millions in expenses claimed are not about what is frivolous, they reek of what is covetous.  From contract to expenses hidden and audits, the reports are of a partner, ExxonMobil, that seeks every opportunity to swindle Guyanese out of their already low oil revenues. In a context such as this, it is unimaginable, therefore, that the Guyana Government (any government), and Guyana’s leaders (any leaders anywhere) could be so casual, so irresponsible, in getting our own meters to monitor the flow of oil from the seabed through the company’s systems, and to the storage tanks.  Whatever the cost of getting our own meters, it would be money well spent, and the earlier that they are bought and installed the better for Guyana. There would be our own metering system, and our own people overseeing firsthand how much oil is passing through the pipes and lines, not some secondhand, probably trumped up, numbers from ExxonMobil. Related Similar Articles

Playing both side of the flute can leave one muzzled Sep 05, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom Kaieteur News – In Guyana, one finds a curious paradox that might amuse, bemuse, or even confound the casual observer: the bourgeois class, the very group whose fortunes have been pulverized by successive governments led by the People’s National Congress (PNC), the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), and the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, continues to be one of the staunchest supporters of these very parties. It’s a paradox wrapped in the finest silk of self-interest, yet embroidered with the threads of political insurance that often unravel at the worst possible moment. The bourgeoisie class seems to have mastered the art of playing both sides of the political divide. Their wealth affords them the privilege of straddling the fence, financing the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC) while simultaneously sliding thick envelopes into the pockets of the main opposition parties. This strategy is steeped in the pragmatic logic of ensuring one’s survival regardless of which party emerges victorious. But it speaks to a deeper, more cynical understanding: elections are not about principles but about preservation. This dance with political duality, however, comes with a cost—a cost that the bourgeoisie appears all too willing to pay. For all their cunning and calculation, this class suffers disproportionately whenever the opposition parties they support refuse to accept the democratic will of the people, plunging the country into uncertainty and economic turmoil. Yet, despite the bruises and battering they endure under such regimes, this class seems unable—or unwilling—to break free from this cycle. It’s a tale as old as time, or at least as old as modern democracy. The bourgeoisie, the very engine of the economy, finds itself in the peculiar position of being both the puppet and the puppeteer. They pull the strings by funding political campaigns, securing favours, and currying favour with whoever sits on the throne. But when the opposition—those same parties whose coffers they have filled—chooses to disregard the results of a free and fair election, it is this class that suffers the most. Businesses falter, investments dry up, and the economy teeters on the brink. Yet, like the moth to the flame, they return to their destructive dalliance come the next election cycle, envelopes at the ready. One might argue that this behaviour is not unique to Guyana. In many parts of the world, the wealthy and the powerful hedge their bets, ensuring that they maintain influence regardless of which political faction gains power. But in Guyana, the situation is especially stark. The country’s history is replete with examples of how political instability, often stoked by opposition parties unwilling to concede defeat, has led to economic hardship. And it is the bourgeoisie—those who have the most to lose—that ends up paying the price. Yet, this class seems almost oblivious to the lessons of history. Or perhaps they are simply too entrenched in their ways, too accustomed to their strategy of playing both sides, to change course. They seem to believe that by spreading their wealth across the political spectrum, they can insulate themselves from the consequences of political upheaval. But this belief is as fragile as it is misguided. The reality is that when the political system is thrown into disarray, when the legitimacy of the government is called into question, it is the bourgeoisie’s investments, businesses, and properties that are the first to feel the impact. There is a certain irony in this situation. The bourgeois class, which prides itself on its shrewdness and business acumen, continually acts in a manner that is detrimental to its own interests. They support parties that have historically undermined the very stability and economic growth that they rely on. And when these parties, once again, disrupt the political order, the bourgeoisie finds itself scrambling to protect its assets, to mitigate the damage that it helped to cause. Yet, despite this, there is little doubt that when the next election rolls around, the same envelopes will be prepared, the same donations made, and the same strategy employed. For in the minds of the bourgeoisie, political insurance trumps all else. It is a hedge against uncertainty, a safeguard against the vagaries of electoral politics. But it is also a trap, one that keeps this class locked in a cycle of self-inflicted harm. This paradox is not lost on the keen observer. The bourgeoisie’s actions, while seemingly rational in the short term, are ultimately self-defeating. They are trapped in a loop of their own making, one where the pursuit of political insurance leads to greater instability, which in turn necessitates even more insurance. It is a cycle that can only end when the bourgeois class realizes that its true interests lie not in playing both sides, but in supporting the principles of democracy and the rule of law. Until that realization dawns, however, one can expect the envelopes to keep circulating, the donations to keep flowing, and the cycle to continue. The bourgeoisie will continue to straddle the political divide, financing both the PPPC and the opposition in the hope of securing their place in the sun. But as history has shown, this strategy is fraught with peril. For in the end, it is not just the economy or the political system that suffers—it is the bourgeoisie itself, caught in a paradox of its own making, that bears the brunt of the fallout. And yet, come the next election, the envelopes will be ready, as they always are, a testament to the enduring, if ultimately self-destructive, logic of political insurance. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) Related Similar Articles

Trinidadian Dr Deokinanan Sharma Sep 05, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, Dr. Deokinanan Sharma, a Trinidadian, passed away last week. Sharma-ji was former head of NCIC (National Center for Indian Culture or Diwali Nagar) of Trinidad that he led for many years; his name and Presidency was linked with the organization. He was a remarkable individual, passionate about promoting Indian culture. His sense of self-discipline and personal sacrifices for promoting Indian culture has always been his guiding principles. When NCIC faced challenges on funding, Dr. Sharma did so with resilience, pride, and determination without kowtowing to politicians. He was an endless source of inspiration for many. He inspired his organization to stand up to state marginalization and discrimination (under both African PNM and Indian UNC administrations) with dignity when seeking funds for its many cultural programs, including Diwali Nagar and an Indian museum. And he as well as NCIC cooperated with and provided solidarity with Guyanese on a host of issues as well as providing a platform for Guyanese to espouse their views. Ravi Dev, Baytoram Ramharack, this writer, and other Guyanese spoke at NCIC at various conferences. There are fond memories of remembering Dr. Sharma at countless interactions at NCIC headquarter, occasionally at his residence, and at many public events. I was fortunate to meet and interview Dr. Sharma multiple times in Trinidad over two decades. He invited me countless times for the annual Diwali Nagar. I attended the marquee event almost every year over the last couple decades, as did many other Indo-Caribbeans from the diaspora. Diwali Nagar was always a sight to behold with its brilliant, spectacular lighting and attractive cultural programmes, singing dancing, acting, drama, other forms of entertainment, rituals, pomp, ceremony, delicious cuisine, and prize-winning fun activities. Dr. Sharma worked closely with several Guyanese to plan conferences and seminars on Hinduism and social issues and attended our presentations. He also attended lectures of Jagan when the latter visited Trinidad to solicit support for restoration of democracy in our homeland. He sympathized with the struggle for the restoration of democracy in our homeland and provided empathy during the period of the ban on imports of food and religious items. Dr Sharma was also known as a promoter of Indo-Caribbean cultural unity. He brought Indians from around the region and from around Trinidad to NCIC headquarters for the annual Nagar in October. Keynote speakers of the annual Diwali Nagar came from around Guyana (like Dr. Vindya Persaud) and the region and others parts of the diaspora. And he had encouraged Guyanese and other Indo-Caribbean people to transplant the Nagar with their own version in their territories. The Indo-Guyanese and Indian diaspora honor and celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of this outstanding cultural leader. Dr Sharma was a true, cultural leader who had a profound impact on the Indian community. He was not just a leader of NCIC (National Center for Indian Culture) but a source of inspiration to other Indians in the diaspora. Dr. Vindya Persaud, President of Guyana Dharmic Sabha, praised Dr. Sharma’s leadership of NCIC when she was the featured speaker delivering the keynote address at the Nagar in 2016. She thanked him for unwavering dedication to the Indian community and the tireless efforts of himself and the organization in organizing and institutionalizing cultural events. As she noted, his organization brought people together and treated leaders of organizations with utmost respect. This organization has helped Indians and others to understand and appreciate Indian history, civilization, and culture. His vision and dedication live on through our actions and continued commitment to the causes he held dear. Dr. Sharma did not dabble in politics, but he supported Winston Dookeran who remained with ANR Robinson in the split with Panday’s ULF in 1988. But Dr. Sharma supported Basdeo Panday and the UNC including his and the party’s rise to government in November 1995. However, Dr. Sharma was disappointed with allegations of corruption and the split between Panday and Ramesh Maharaj in 2001 that led to the defeat of the UNC in snap elections in December that year. Sharma supported and praised Kamla’s leadership in 2010, including her challenge of Panday for leader of the party, but became disappointed in aspects of governance and the stench of corruption. In private, Sharma was critical of Kamla for holding on to leadership of the party after her defeat in 2015 and for staying on as leader in spite of recurring defeats in elections. Sharma expressed confidence that under new, credible leadership, an UNC led united opposition will comfortably win the 2025 elections. Dr. Deokinanan Sharma’s legacy will stand as an example to all of us to persist in our immersion in Indian culture. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram Related Similar Articles

An EIA must be completed! Sep 05, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, The decision by the EPA to not do an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the establishment of a waste treatment / processing facility at Coverden is a serious misstep. There is nothing to lose by having the assessment completed, but much to gain by doing so. CRG calls upon the Board of the EPA, the Ministry of Health and both sides of the aisle of the House of Parliament to insist on having the EIA completed for this oil and gas sector waste processing project. The health of our people and their environment is of utmost importance. Health before wealth! Without health, wealth is of little to no value. Sincerely, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana Related Similar Articles

The CARICOM Reparations Commissions reparations plan is inadequate Sep 05, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, With reparations in the U.S. beginning to gain traction, CARICOM needs to pay close attention and act with a sense of urgency. Many U.S. reparations initiatives call for compensatory justice to the descendants of the aggrieved. I would argue that the CARICOM Reparations Commissions (CRC) current ten-point plan for reparatory justice (caricomreparations.org) does not explicitly and unequivocally call for direct monetary compensation to the descendants of Caribbean slavery and colonisation. For context, the CRC’s ten-point plan includes 1) Full formal apology, 2) Indigenous peoples development programmes, 3) Funding for repatriation to Africa , 4) The establishment of cultural institutions and the return of cultural heritage, 5) Assistance in remedying the public health crisis, 6) Education programmes, 7) The enhancement of historical and cultural knowledge exchanges, 8) Psychological rehabilitation as a results of the transmission of trauma, 9) The right to development through the use of technology, and 10) Debt cancellation and monetary compensation. Practically everything in this ten-point plan is an indirect benefit that would not make a significant or lasting impact on the everyday life of descendants of Caribbean slavery and colonisation. I implore you to read the ten-point plan in its entirety. What was the purpose of slavery and colonisation? Simply put, the purpose was for the intentional maldistribution of land, wealth, and resources from the slave/colonised to the slave owner/coloniser. When we look at the CRC’s ten-point plan, it does not adequately and unquestionably address this maldistribution. Our ancestors were enslaved and colonised to generate wealth for Europe through their forced labour. That wealth continues to be passed down generation after generation, while the descendants of Caribbean slavery and colonisation are mostly passed down poverty generation after generation. Look at the economic disparity between countries in Western Europe (victimizers) and countries of the Caribbean (victims). Virtually all economic deprivation in the Caribbean can be directly linked to European slavery and colonialism. The root word of reparations is repair. To repair is to fix, amend, or make good. How do you fix, amend, or make good to the descendants of Caribbean slavery and colonisation? You either give back what was taken or compensate for it. What was taken from us? Ignoring the psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspects, we were robbed of land, wealth, and resources. The descendants of Caribbean slavery and colonisation need to be financially compensated for what was taken century after century, in addition for the atrocities committed against our ancestors. Anything else is just “putting lipstick on a pig”. I want you to imagine that you weren’t paid any wages from your employer for an entire year despite working. Similarly, imagine that you dropped dead tomorrow. Would a full formal apology (point #1) from your employer to your kids be suitable for you? I’m positive you would want your kids to be financially compensated for your year of working. Likewise, how does education programmes (step #6) benefit our elders, like my 98-year-old grandmother, or those who decide to opt-out of traditional education? In point #10, debt cancellation and monetary compensation, the CRC further states “…and direct monetary payments where appropriate…”. This is vague and not distinct enough. Furthermore, every point, excluding #1 (full formal apology) requires CASH MONEY. It makes more sense to just give descendants of Caribbean slavery and colonisation direct cash payments. Though I understand the spirit of the CRC’s ten-point plan, it would be nonsensical and irresponsible to not clearly call for financial compensation to every descendant of Caribbean slavery and colonisation. We need to hold the CRC accountable to push for compensatory justice. We may only have one opportunity for reparations and we need to make sure we get it right. We owe it to our ancestors and our progeny to be uncompromising in this demand. Regards, Jamie Pearson Treasure Beach, Jamaica  Related Similar Articles