Is ‘feral blast’ an election strategy?
Dear Editor,
Today the Guyanese people are trying to figure out who and what was behind this“feral blast” attack on Ambassador Hardt and the U.S. govt. It is at once as shocking as it is revealing of the character of this Cabinet. Who is in charge? Is it president Ramotar (out of town)? Did he approve the feral blast attack? The media should demand to know whether he did, and, if he did not know, he should apologize. The perception right now is that Luncheon is the de facto president. Which is worse – a titular president who is out-of-it or a de facto president who has usurped power? Citizens in Georgetown should rally with placards demanding President Ramotar apologize for this totally unwarranted attack on the representative of the U.S. govt. On the other hand, President Ramotar and his Cabinet may have decided to seek a confrontation with the U.S. government. According to Luncheon, it has. But let President Ramotar go on record and say it. (1) The Cabinet is boiling over with anger over the U.S. intervention in the 1960’s causing it to fall from power – and forced to spend 28-years in the wilderness. The U.S. has done that in many countries around the world. It was the U.S. policy to contain the spread of communist ideology. Today communism is dead. The whole world has embraced free market economics – including Guyana, China, Russia. Central planning and State ownership of resources are out. Let us accept what happened in the 1960s and move forward. Has the U. S. govt. apologized? I believe it did with all goodwill programs and aid to Guyana. The U.S. govt. made it possible to have Free and Fair Elections in 1992. Former president Carter was sent there with the express approval of President Bush. When president Jagan died at a U.S. hospital, before his casket was loaded on the aircraft, he was honored with a 21-gun salute. There can’t be any better demonstration of apology and forgiveness for what happened in the 1960’s. So the venom coming out of the Cabinet is very misplaced. Very troubling. Is it an election/campaign strategy intended to stir up anger among the Indian population so that the ruling Indo-ethnic party will maximize its votes from this voting bloc? 2) Cabinet is angry over Ambassador Hardt’s (read U.S. govt.) call for the holding of Local Govt. elections. Does this of itself, by itself, constitute “interference” in the internal affairs of Guyana? Is this an attack on sovereignty? (3) Ambassador Hardt has “negotiated” something called “LEAD” – a program to deepen democracy – done above board, nothing covert and with approval from all parties. Does this constitute an attack on sovereignty? Something is terribly wrong in Guyana. Cabinet will do well to concentrate its energies on making sure paddy farmers get paid in a timely manner, seek U.S. govt.’s technical assistance to stop the gold from being smuggled out. Gold industry is the economy’s main pillar, contributing more than sugar, bauxite and rice. Don’t let this industry go down the drain. Worry about these things. And, after 20-years it is time for Local govt. elections. It is ok for citizens to call for LGE, but not Brent Hardt. When Hardt does it, it is an attack on sovereignty. What a load of horse dung from this govt. No wonder Guyanese people at home and abroad are fed-up with this “square peg” Cabinet and president.
Mike Persaud
