Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 12, 2013 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
In 1930, Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru became the president of the Congress Party of India. That is 83 years ago. Between Mr. Nehru, his daughter, Indira, and Indira’s son, Rajiv, between them have headed the Government of India for thirty-five years since Independence in 1947. At the moment, the Congress’s President is the wife of Rajiv (deceased), Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, and Sonia’s son, Rahul, is the Vice-President
Rahul is also a Congress Party Member of Parliament. Looking at the statistics, it would show that over the past eighty years, the ruling party in India and the Government of India has been a dynastic affair – one family has been in control It is no secret in India and the world that Rahul Gandhi will in the future contest elections as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the Congress Party.
This is the Third World where Nelson Mandela is seen as a virtual saint. Let us cross over to Africa. Forbes magazine lists Isabel dos Santos as the seventh richest person in Africa at US$4 billion, making her the wealthiest African woman in the world ahead of Oprah Winfrey by US$1billion. Isabel dos Santos is nowhere near the age of Warren Buffet, the richest American. Buffet is 83, dos Santos is 40. Maybe if she lives as long as Buffet, she may surpass him in billions of dollars. Of course you are tempted to ask; how at age forty she got US$4 billion?
Isabel dos Santos is the daughter of José dos Santos, the President of Angola since 1979. He is the fourth longest serving African President with Mugabe at number five. The world, including Guyana under Forbes Burnham, helped dos Santos and Mugabe to come to power. Even the World Council of Churches headquartered in Switzerland gave money to the guerilla war led by Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo in what was then Rhodesia.
The Third World, including large India, large China and small Guyana stood with dos Santos and Mugabe. It was Cuba that played the definitive role in 1976 in bringing dos Santos to power when its soldiers fought on behalf of the guerrillas led by Mugabe and Jonas Savimbi. Guyana played its part by allowing the planes to refuel when Barbados and Trinidad refused.
Maybe Isabel dos Santos should spend some of that money in Guyana. She owes us and we should tell her so.
Today Nkomo is dead. Harassed by Mugabe, he made a statement that is today so resounding that all young people need to remember it. He intoned; “I was never ever persecuted like this even under the white man in Rhodesia.” He was referring to what Mugabe did him. Savimbi resumed fighting, this time against dos Santos after claiming that dos Santos rigged the elections.
Incidentally, the Guardian (of London) got hold of thousands of secret off shore accounts in which the world’s wealthy have hidden their money. The Guardian has published some of the names of these accounts hidden away in some small islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific. Guess who is a holder? Robert Mugabe.
Up came the phenomenal Barack Obama at Mandela’s funeral service. He took a huge swipe at dictators who love Mandela but are trillions of miles away from what Mandela stood for. No doubt Guyana must be included in the hypocrisy that President Obama had exposed. Here are the words of the US President; “There are too many people who happily embrace Madiba’s legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge poverty and growing equality…there are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle but do not tolerate dissent from their own people.”
The Guyanese people know what President Obama means. I know what Obama means. Twice I was attacked, lost my job, and still facing a court case. But I am still alive. Some like Walter Rodney were not so fortunate. But we must remember Rodney was killed thirty three years ago. That was a long time ago. Yet so many of us in the 21st century here in Guyana fear for our lives in a country whose leadership went to pay homage to Mandela.
The people of Africa know deep down in their hearts what this great American President means. President Obama was brave to say it – in this world where leaders openly say they love Mandela, they turn their back on horrible poverty and they practise horrible racial discrimination.
I documented race discrimination in my own country and it earned me a libel suit from the then President. I am not afraid. I am a child of Madiba.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]