Dear Editor,
It is deeply concerning that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s sudden interest in the Zoo and Botanical Gardens has not raised more eyebrows, especially considering the troubling events unfolding behind the scenes. At the same time Jagdeo parades his supposed commitment to public consultations and environmental restoration, serious allegations have emerged suggesting his involvement in orchestrating the SWAT team raid on Assistant Commissioner Calvin Brutus’ home. Does any thinking person genuinely believe that Jagdeo, who has never shown any enthusiasm for transparency or public input, now cares about the condition of a zoo that the PPP administration has allowed to deteriorate over the years?
Let us be clear, this so-called public consultation on the zoo renovation project is a smoke screen, a calculated performance meant to distract from Jagdeo’s alleged role in the Brutus SWAT debacle. Has Jagdeo ever held meaningful public consultations on anything that truly matters—be it political appointments, procurement decisions, or the governance of national institutions? It is both absurd and insulting to suggest that a man who operates through opaque backroom deals and autocratic policies now cares about soliciting citizen feedback on zoo renovations. Jagdeo’s sudden zeal for public engagement rings hollow given the PPP’s long-standing disdain for transparency and accountability.
The media’s failure to interrogate Jagdeo’s role in these parallel events—his conspicuous appearance at the zoo while the heavy hand of state power crushes his political opponents—represents a dangerous abdication of responsibility. We must not allow ourselves to be fooled by Jagdeo’s opportunistic grandstanding or distracted from the PPP’s authoritarian tendencies. The focus should remain on how state power is being abused and weaponized against political dissenters. As citizens, we must demand more from the press and refuse to be placated by superficial distractions like this zoo charade.
It is time the media stopped acting as passive observers and started asking the hard questions. Who is pulling the strings behind the scenes in Guyana’s government? And what does this cynical attempt at public engagement truly aim to conceal?
Sincerely,
Jerome Ali
