By GHK Lall- Some rough characters in America decided that it is time to deal with Cuba. Cuban doctors, to be precise. According to the Washingtonians, the Cubans are bad people, so bad that they oppress their own. Plus, they do a lot of mischief around the world. Straight talk: I like Cubans, with the senoritas among my favorites, and along with that racy, bouncy music, to accompany the tequila, what is there to find fault with, as the Yankees do? Now, they want countries like Guyana to send the Cuban doctors back to Havana.
It was something that I really thought, definitely expected, that the wrath of one Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President of Guyana would flare to the heavens. Since it is Dr. Jay and heaven does not feature in his head, I correct to skies. He is a here-and-now man, a real where’s the beef character. But the Guyana strongman did quite the opposite: he became a weakling. A sloppy, anemic, tricky puppy. In sum, he is working through, waiting on, CARICOM. Say that again, sir!
A world of misgivings is harbored about my brother, Guyana’s supreme ayatollah, Dr. Boss Jagdeo. But there are certain things that I believe even he will not do, not go near. Cuban doctors, and their American-driven expulsion, are one such exception. There are few people in this country, who know as much as this man (who doesn’t forget anything), how much the Cubans have contributed to Guyana’s healthcare system.
Cubans have been a backbone, and a brace as good as any and worth their weight for any number of pesos paid. Then, there is the flip side of that coin, which is the small platoon of Guyanese studying on that Isle. Hence, I expected Guyana’s cock-of-the walk maestro to strut his stuff and say shove off to the Americans. His version of that was the ballet and Kathak of CARICOM. He is waiting and hoping that he will be seeing and hearing a strong response. Ye gods!
Has anyone ever known Mr. Jagdeo to hide behind the skirts of others? If the t-word is involved, that’s his norm. But it cannot be on something as sensitive and pivotal as Cuban doctors and their continued presence here. Those were fighting words that came out of America. Fire had to leap out of his eyes. Get those grubby paws off from Dr. Pedro and Dr. Margarita.
They are ours, and they will stay that way. No discussion. No disagreement. No nothing, as is said in Brooklyn and Liverpool. Story done. It was the least that was anticipated from a leader of the incomparable prowess of Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. When Guyanese thought he would sizzle with steam, he fizzled with froth. CARICOM is the champ, and he is waiting to see how that muscular group would turnout. I discerned self-enslavement taken to another level. How unlike two other leaders in the region.
First, there was the departing Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley. Go ahead, tek away de visa; it didn’t matter that much to him. Now, that’s my kind of leader. The Brits, forever in lockstep with their fellow Anglo-Saxons (who really aren’t either) in America rushed out and did the honors: visa-free travel from Trinidad and Tobago to Trafalgar given the boot. The reason given was too many asylum seekers. Somebody in Whitehall and the Foreign Office need to be housed in an asylum. I’ll not go further, since the logic is impeccable. Then, out came the lady from Bridgetown, PM Mia Mottley with ice in her veins -whatever will be. But the Cubans will be here.
Now, if only Guyana’s former head of state, Guyana’s current all-but-in-name president, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo could have found the nuts to speak as clearly and unequivocally to the Americans as those two CARICOM leaders, I would be proud to be his loudest cheerleader. Time and again, I have pleaded with Bhai Bharrat: give me something to go on, and I will do the rest. On behalf of the vice-president, and this country, it would be a pleasure to say to the Americans: get the so-and-so out of Guyana’s face.
The bigger idea is that there must be some issue, some circumstance, where Guyana Government leaders stop collapsing in a sweat and a heap, and playing dead, before the Yanks. Good grief! If a stand can’t be taken for hardworking, properly comped Cuban practitioners in this country, then no stand can be taken against Exxon. All Guyanese should now understand even more clearly why Exxon is the dominant and unchallenged force here, and His Royal Highness Alistair Routledge is the reigning king.
Due to his roots, the monarchy is within reach of Mr. Routledge. If Jagdeo is so enfeebled that he can’t speak on his own about Cuban doctors, then I am unable to take him seriously for any word on anything that he speaks in English. Shame and disgrace. Or, as Guyanese say: pity po bai. No Guyanese leader should, could, be this impotent, be of such fragile construction. PMs Keith Rowley and Mia Mottley weren’t.
