Latest update March 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 19, 2021 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column
Encouraging Events, Disturbing Developments…
By GHK Lall
Kaieteur News – I encourage all my fellow Guyanese to get vaccinated. Too many in our small population are falling daily. In the circumstances, there is only one sensible position: no more hesitation, time for vaccination!
I am reading of the developments involving attacks on Minister of Education, Ms. Priya Manickchand. Revolting. How easily we get to this point, with common courtesy and civility abandoned swiftly. It disturbs that our politics inspire us to degrade each other like this that confrontational matters deteriorate so reflexively to these monstrous places. We pretend at political correctness, individual honesty and decency, then the bottom fall out.
I remember one of the high points of that rabid political witch hunter’s Sen. Joe McCarthy’s inquisitions, being when the Chief Counsel for the U.S. Army, Joseph Welch, said this to the demagogic McCarthy: “Have you no sense of decency, sir?” I say to those who engaged in that ugly attack on the Minister of Education: things should never go this far. Never!
I don’t agree with how the Minister handles her portfolio – the decisions made, the positions taken, the way she conducts her official responsibilities – and I have expressed caustic words to such; but there are lines that must not be crossed. Those who did must do the right thing, show some remorse, regroup, and start over.
I am disturbed by what unfolded at Dartmouth, Essequibo, in the residence of now deceased citizen, Orin Boston. A storm blew through the Boston family home, and fatally blew away Mr. Boston with it. For “prohibited items?” I wonder if we are talking of contraband firearms here. The Guyana Police Force had better come up with a persuasive account – a truthful one – about the overwhelming nature of intelligence gathered, the control in place, the tactics employed. Presently, I will not second guess the GPF, but something troubles here. It troubles, because a home can be invaded with overpowering force under the cover of dark, a man killed, a cover story (‘confrontation’), a convenient secondary supporting narrative ‘two murder suspects snared,’ and with the most senior officers in the dark, especially the Crime Chief. With senior officers out of the loop, it may be for management of leaks purposes, but it doesn’t give much confidence, if there are such fears at such heights. Who is trusted? And if the underlying story is not on the up and up, then which homes if secure? The whole truth of what occurred at Dartmouth must come out. We wait.
By now, waiting and disappointing have become the national culture with big-name, big-ticket projects in Guyana. The Airport Expansion project stands as an embarrassing poster child. The nakedness of not one, but three governments (involving the same two old political parties, though) disturbs. The time is always extending, the costs keep rising, but the project is never ending. The latest creature from outer space, a Bishop of a government minister, no less, promised months ago that he had no patience, would take no prisoners, and that the contractor had to deliver. Either the Chinese are making a fool of Minister Edghill; or he is making a fool of Guyanese, with the blustery sermonising that has become his pious public clothing. The Chinese have not delivered, and Minister Edghill has not delivered on that CJIA expansion nightmare.
Minister Edghill is all hot air and cold feet where the airport expansion is concerned. All noise, no product. No substance, too. But he is not a Bishop for nothing; such a smart one is he (or thinks he is). He has bought time and opportunity, with that, the news that the project is going to be done by the end of this year, and below US$200M. Minister Edghill has opened the door for more thievery by pious comrades, who like him talk a good game. He gets an exemption (for now). The Minister also thinks he is one slick cookie: he gets to say, what the PNC couldn’t do, his government did. That is, deliver a completed airport project. These are the disturbing developments and people we have here.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Listen to the man that is throwing Guyanese bright future away
Mar 19, 2024
Kaieteur Sports – The Dennis DeoRoop-trained horse, Stolen Money, dominated the field to claim victory in the feature event at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot East Berbice on...Kaieteur News – The government has embarked on an ambitious infrastructure development spree. It has initiated major... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – In 2024, a series of general elections in Latin American countries, including... 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]