EYEWITNESS: The plot thickens…
on elections rigging
It looks like folks are finally listening to your (barefoot) Eyewitness crying in the wilderness (so it seemed!) about the ground being laid for first delaying, and then rigging if necessary, the scheduled 2020 general elections. As he’d explained, the two-year delay – like the one from 1990 to 1992 – will ensure oil is flowing by then, and (hopefully) the good times are rolling.
If in fact, the latter scenario plays out, there will be no need to rig – whether with a scalpel or a sledgehammer. But crucial to everything is to drag out the elections. And as a Government filled with military types, they aren’t just rolling out a single plan. There are plans A, B, C and the entire alphabet drafted to handle all possible contingencies.
In play right now is the “delay option” through foot-dragging and digging in of heels on the GECOM Chairman. Apart from the mice playing with (and eating out) the cheese while the cat’s away, if a chairman isn’t found by 2020, then there will be no legitimised elections. Delaying the elections then becomes the ONLY option feasible, no?
But we just heard about another delay option…which sounds even more convincing to your Eyewitness. It’s so good it could even be Option A. This is the “need for constitutional change” option. The international community – A,B,C,D and the whole alphabet soup of countries – has pronounced on the need for constitutional change. Seminars have been held. (Pliable) front groups have been formed to push the (fine) point. The Government insists it “believes” in constitutional change.
The PM Minister’s even been allocated $80 million dollars for countrywide “consultations” on the subject – after a high-powered group held a year of hearings and came up with a raft (or a canoe) of proposals.
A hint about this new “delay option” came when Pressie dismissed those proposals as being gathered behind four walls! He – a man who launches CoIs sitting within four walls at the drop of a beret – insisted the entire country must be canvassed! Presumably in open spaces. Hence the $80 million. But nothing’s been done since by the PM, and even though he’s no Speedy Gonzalez, the delay is ominous.
So, at a high-powered gathering, the ex-chair of the AFC (who just happens to be the fella who led the “four walls” constitutional initiative) opined there ain’t no way consultations would be completed by 2020.
His successor as AFC Chair, who just happens to be the Public Security Minister, stoutly asserted there ain’t no way he’s going to ALLOW any delays on elections.
Really?? And exactly how will this be done? Holding his breath??
…on trade
Your Eyewitness has been following the emanations from the Business Summit sponsored by our Private Sector. Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, for instance, was on the critical panel on trade. Incidentally, this fella Greenidge takes his designation much too literally. Being a “Foreign” Minister doesn’t mean he has to be “foreign” all the time!! Or is it he and Pressie can’t be in the same hole at the same time??!!
Anyhow, Greenidge moaned about us not breaking out of the traditional EIGHT primary products (he expanded on Pressie’s “six curses”) and wondered when our Private Sector would get its act together. But hold it! What about that Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) he negotiated on behalf of CARICOM with Europe? Wasn’t this supposed to ensure “value added” gets shipped to Europe?
Jagdeo was upset with the deal, but Greenidge said: “not to worry”!! Yeah right!!
Incidentally, whatever happened to the big bucks that came via “Aid for Trade” to help the Private Sector add value??
…on Police Top Brass
If one CoI’s delivering results, it’s the one into the alleged assassination plot against Pressie.
The recommendation is to axe the entire top brass. So, is a sergeant to take over?
Cause Ramjattan said, unlike TT, Guyana’s not looking foreign.
