Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana… : The unearthing of a dangerous trend in Region 6 : –AfC leadership’s ‘physiological terrorism’ of Berbicians

OLD Kai must recognise the efforts of Haseef Yusuf in constantly exposing the threat posed by the AFC leadership to innocent and unsuspecting citizens. He has detailed knowledge of the intricacies of that Party, and the characters that make up its leadership cabal. 

Yusuf was ostracised from the Party when he queried how a current MP and ‘bush doctor’ from Berbice could have spent millions of dollars on feeding a handful of people over a few days during the last elections. It did not help that immediately after the elections, the individual in question purchased a Toyota Prado. A florist in the Party was also accused of misappropriating millions; it was apparently a ‘Wild West’ scene, with absolutely no form of accountability.
Those who fell for their tall tales and accusations against the PPP and PPP/C Government, especially from overseas, and did not have the opportunity to determine first-hand the veracity of those accusations but instead placed their confidence in the Kaieteur and Stabroek News, sent thousands of US dollars to the Party.
However, as the old saying goes, ‘You give a man long enough rope, eventually he will hang himself’. And those donors, over time, soon came to realise that they were conned. When they enquired about their monies and asked for records, none could apparently be produced. Instead, they were given all manner of lame excuses, including the one where a member spent over $4M on buying ‘bora and bigan’. The same member had told Berbicians on air that he was paying personally for his television programmes out of the goodness of his heart. When the story did come out, it was revealed that he was using Party donations to pay for these TV programmes.
Upset and shocked, as these were the people who were preaching about accountability and against corruption, many of the overseas and local donors parted ways in sometimes acrimonious public spats with the AFC. Then, no less a person than Moses Nagamootoo had the temerity to go before the media and lament that Party donations had dried up as he begged for people to continue giving them their hard-earned monies.
But it was too late! An independent poll indicated that the AFC, during this time, had already lost over 50% of its supporters, and while the AFC moved to attack the credibility of the findings, the public admission by Nagamootoo of dwindling financial support confirmed the obvious.
They say a leader is not judged by his actions when the going is easy, but rather when the going gets tough; and here it was that the time had come for them to confirm if they were true leaders, genuine leaders, or merely prima-donnas.
What followed was a shocking revelation, as the leadership became increasingly desperate to hold on to their MP duty-free status in the National Assembly, refusing to infuse new and young blood into their leadership cabal; contradicting themselves constantly; race baiting; and now we are informed by Haseef Yusuf that they have added ‘physiological terrorism’ to their repertoire.
Not satisfied with bluntly informing citizens that they were ‘collateral damage’, the Party’s leadership now wants to terrorise citizens physiologically, as Yusuf reveals in a letter published by only a few media houses, that AFC leader, Khemraj Ramjattan on a television programme in Berbice on May 10, threatened Berbicians that their visas will be taken away by the US Government, if they did not support the US-led LEAD project, which is providing assistance to the opposition.
In an openly racist tone, Ramjattan is quoted by Haseef as saying “When you get the Americans vex, all the East Indians in Berbice who want visa to go to America, if those people (US) retaliate, who you think will be affected? You will be affected by this Communist Government! They don’t like Americans!”
A few things immediately stand out: Is it only East Indians who live in Berbice? Why the direct reference to this ethnic group by Ramjattan? Why the indication that only this ethnic group will be affected? Does the AFC leader know of a plan to directly target East Indians in Guyana?
Then he accuses the government of being communist, but citizens will recall that right in Berbice, and across the country, these very people have accused the government of being capitalist. So, which is it, AFC?
Then he accuses the government of not liking Americans. This is the lowest the AFC could have stooped, in attempting to equate the government’s objection to certain aspects of the LEAD project to a dislike for Americans. This is shallow politics; this is disgraceful politics.
Without doubt, America and Guyana have enjoyed the strongest bilateral relationship under the PPP/C Government than at any other point in our history; even during the period when they propped up an illegitimate regime in this country. Just like any partnership, there will be rough patches, and the PPP/C has shown the courage to not be intimidated, but rather raise their concerns in a respectful and responsible manner; and the fact that the US has agreed to put the LEAD project on hold indicates that they have recognised the position by the Guyana Government. So, Ramjattan has been left out in the cold.
Old Kai has been very critical of the US Ambassador to Guyana, but that does not equate to dislike. There are many things for which I am an admirer of the US society; there are many things I admire the US Government for, including the fact that they are currently providing assistance in Nigeria to apprehend the Boko Haram terrorist group, and to free those female students. But there are times when I will disagree with some of their policies; and unlike the AFC and APNU, who are the quintessential soup-drinkers and are willing to be door mats, Old Kai will speak up.
The reason I will speak up is because I value the relationship between the US and Guyana, and it will only gain strength if there is mutual respect. The US will not respect anyone willing to be their ‘puppets’, as Ramjattan and Granger are so eager to become. How can ‘puppets’ become leaders?
We are informed that Ramjattan continued his threats against East Indians in Berbice by stating, “If the US retaliates against you, then all hell will break loose, because you will not get your visa, and so many other things…” He then admits what Old Kai has been contending all along. “…they (the government) putting our country in more trouble than what the opposition is doing, and what they are saying about the Anti-Money Laundering Bill.”
When you have the AFC leader announcing publicly that they are indeed putting the country in ‘trouble’, it is self explanatory! In the meantime, both the US and Guyana Governments have announced that negotiations over the LEAD project is proceeding smoothly, which is in keeping with two nations that share a respectable and close relationship. There is no ‘jook-fuh-jook’ policy involved here.
I close with a fact that the opposition cannot dispute: More Guyanese than at any other point in our history possess US visas, and visas to other countries where they regularly travel. These people can afford to go for vacations and return home. Statistics by the US embassy has revealed that indeed, there has been a marked increase in the number of Guyanese they have approved for visas.
If the US had suspected that these people only wanted to go to their country and stay illegally as was rampant in a previous era, the increase in air traffic at the CJIA of both outgoing and incoming flights would not have been a reality. We would not have needed to expand the airport to accommodate this significant rise in air traffic.
It is testimony to the fact that Guyana’s economy has improved dramatically, and with it the standard of living of our citizens; the US has recognised this, and, in return, is less hesitant about issuing visas.
So, to the AFC and APNU leadership, bring back commonsense. But, as Mrs. Old Kai will argue, it was never there in the first place.