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Nov 03, 2014 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
In a small town the size of Guyana where everyone knows everyone, where everyone knows everyone’s business, no secrets exist. One of the most pungent public secrets in this small town is the man behind the throne. If you didn’t know Latin, don’t know what the hell Latin is or what it means, since 2011 you would have picked up the Latin phrases, “de jure” and “de facto”
De jure means the legal right to a title, or an office, or a physical attribute. De facto means, in reality, that the de jure ownership is just what it is – legal in name only but not in substance. So a public figure is legally appointed to head a national organization. But in actuality, the real head is another person. He/she is the de facto head.
This is what the opposition parties were saying about the overthrown Thai Prime Minister; that the real PM was her brother. He controlled his sister and was making decisions for her. The most talked about public secret in Guyana is the man behind the throne is Bharrat Jagdeo; the de jure president is Donald Ramotar. Bharrat Jagdeo is de facto leader.
The details in the Nandlall tape have revealed what Guyanese already knew – Jagdeo “run things.” On the tape, Nandlall said; “Me and BJ does talk about you.” He was referring to the journalist at the other end of the line. What is important here is to analyze the deeper meaning behind the words, “Me and BJ does talk about you.”
BJ of course means Bharrat Jagdeo. The operative word is “does.” Nandlall did not say, “Me and BJ used to talk about you,” or, “BJ and I once spoke about you.” The present tense is used meaning that Jagdeo has ongoing sensitive discussions with senior Cabinet politicians that result in output. The request for tax records is perhaps the most compelling example of Jagdeo’s “post-Jagdeo” power.
If I was to ask for my interpretation of what the planned attack on Kaieteur News was all about, I would not leave out the role of Macbeth’s wife which if you did not know would be the king behind the throne. I have said to many of my colleagues at Kaieteur News, including a long session with Dale Andrews, that Mr. Jagdeo’s vindictiveness will emerge after he demits office.
Mr. Jagdeo’s real moment of brilliant realpolitik came when he imposed Ramotar on the PPP as the 2011 Presidential Candidate. Jagdeo was depressingly uncertain if he could control the only eligible candidate – Ralph Ramkarran. It was inconceivable for Ramkarran as President to play second fiddle to a former President. That was unimaginable. But Ramotar would.
Jagdeo chose Ramotar. Ramotar was eternally grateful. The first evidence of this sycophancy of Ramotar was when he named a Cabinet that was a hundred percent Jagdeoite. He had no choice. He still doesn’t. This brings us to the conspiracy to hurt Glenn Lall and his staff (and please read that to mean this columnist too).
I don’t think this was a one-man thing or a two-man thing. This was a triumvirate at work – Jagdeo, Nandlall and Ramotar. We know the role of Jagdeo and Nandlall but we didn’t want to see the essential role of Ramotar in all of this – after all he is the President; the de jure president. But there is a de facto president.
Ramotar gave himself away when in less than a day after the tape went viral his government issued a semantic embrace and a political endorsement of Nandlall. We have now seen his role in the scheme of things. That was day one. Ramotar further exposed himself on day two when in what could only be described as monstrous politics he told the Guyanese people that Nandlall was illegally taped. That is where his government is at, that is what his government is concerned about in the entire scandal.
The triumvirate was at work. The tape has exposed them. Ramotar could keep lamenting the so-called illegal taping. Nandlall could keep on talking about his words being taken out of context. Jagdeo could continue to remain aloof from the expanding infamy but the die is cast. The Guyanese people and the world know what the triumvirate has done.
But more than this, those intimately associated with the Kaieteur News should thank their lucky stars.
You have to be dishonest to think that those gunmen who were sent would have left me alone. So many persons have approached me and advised that I be careful. I will but I will not distance myself from Kaieteur News offices. On the contrary I plan to visit more often.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
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