The $200,000 “one-off” cash grant had its positives, what could help bruised and battered Guyanese stem the red tide that overwhelmed them. In a word -prices. In two: food prices. In the extended version of either, it is a killer cost-of-living reality in the domestic environment. Guyanese, none more than the strapped poor, needed some bacon from the oil. That rich fat to give them some energy, to infuse with a little bit of the spirit that there is oil out there and that the PPP Government of Ali and Jagdeo and Singh really does care. Despite questions, notwithstanding its gaping holes, the flashing, arresting $200,000 cash grant announcement from President Ali met with some degree of hospitality here.
Particularly appreciated was the elaboration provided by Guyana’s chief policymaker, Dr. Bharat Jagdeo, who enthusiastically dived headfirst into the procedural. It meant that plenty of money had to be involved somehow, some kind of rich sharing occurring. Indeed, all those were part of the $60 billion going into the plus column of Guyanese households. Try separating the Vice President from such a season of economic opulence, what Guyanese call ‘freeness.’ According to Guyana’s brightest sun, the GPL database would be the foundation in the delivery of the 200 grand.
I cheered, even though there is awareness that tens of thousands of Guyanese households are not part of the GPL’s system. The GPL grid of customers ranks among the more robust, the more reliable, record that Guyana has. From a reasonable man’s perspective, the majority of Guyana’s households (264,000) would be accounted for, dealt with in an efficient manner. To make matters still more inspiring, there was a fine detail from Dr. Jagdeo, which brought a nod of approval. A check will follow to the eligible households. A financial instrument and not a sack stuffed with cash.
My thinking was that, at long last, the PPP as a group, as a government, was turning the corner, moving from chronic darkness to the first rays of light. Then came the Mawashi Geri from the steel-tipped boot of Excellency Ali. He must have a black belt alongside the other belts that gird his waist, and which hide his other secret skills.
In a matter of days, $200,000 went to $100,000. No! the Guyana dollar was not devalued; rather the PPP of Excellency Ali relooked and revalued the potentials of the “one-off.” It is best described as maximizing the moment, making room to include the youth demographic. A bigger pool of cash grant recipients translates to a bigger pool of well-incentivized voters. The palm tree doesn’t feature. The cup does, is the only consideration. Is who give ayuh dem hundred Big Michael? It is political wisdom of particularly crafty proportions with a hundred pieces of brown notes doing the trick. Enticements R’ Us, says the PPP Government and there is the proof. Who am I to cross swords with a fully in control ruling party? There may be madness in the family lineup, but nothing of that kind, nowhere near the level to push over the edge.
Along with the sweet $100,000 cash entanglements (but who wants to be free a la Sam Cook), Excellency Ali delivered his October broadside, his good ole October surprise. National ID card or valid passport is all that is required to collect. In one sentence, the GPL was pushed into the SUV trunk, securely locked, and cash resumed its glorious place as king of Guyana. How else to interpret, explain, the $100,000 one-off and mentioning of national ID card or working passport in the same sentence?
Older Guyanese are gearing up to collect next year’s pension book, which one of them is brave enough to turn up and collect $100,000 cash in an envelope? Cash has its incentivizing streaks for citizens, the cohort of excited voters. Cash also has its political visions and inspirations. The culture of this country must be faced clinically. With anywhere upwards of $60 billion in cash to share out, the ‘C’ word just regained its place in the winner’s enclosure.
It is not the old local racial slur. The ‘C’ is for corruption in caps. I have always said that the PPP entity is a cunning and craven cluster of democracy’s champions. So, too, are the pilots in the PPP Government: suddenly, the GPL customer system is projected as a hindrance to the free-for-all planned with the $60 billion plus. With that kind of money, there is the opportunity for some neat campaign financing on the sly. The physical presence of the Audit Office adds an aura of legitimacy to whatever baseline white-collar crimes are contemplated by our versatile and scheming brothers in the sitting government. It is going to be some undertaking to move those mountains of cash ($60 billion and much more) between now and the December season. Haste doesn’t lead to waste in this environment. Haste facilitates self-help.
With more warm bodies (only) participating, more billions involved, more of an arm’s length transaction implementation highly likely to takeover (ID card and travel document), the stage is all set. The PPP Government now doesn’t have to collect any dark money, accept any dirty currency from dirty people (or as much as before). With the $100,000 development, the cash grant business went from enticements to entanglements. Since “one-off” was always emphasized, it is better to grab the cash now than wait and be held to the whims of donors, noise from watchers, and answering to anyone. Cash is back. Let the games begin.
