By GHK Lall- Precision or surgical military strikes impress me. But not this abomination about support for what upholds democratic norms. Will be a while before those norms arrive. What started out wrong, will get worse. For I believe that there are Venezuelan patriots still left, and there will be hell to pay. Hopefully, Guyana doesn’t pay anything. The PPP has always lamented (rightly so) the ugly ouster of Dr. Cheddi Jagan as foully undemocratic. But today I hear democracy’s norms being smartly touted as being paved over there.
If Venezuela today, where tomorrow? It can’t be Guyana, since local leaders now represent nothing besides rhetoric. It has to be a tragedy that men aspire to power, gain power, only to transform into the powerless. Pointedly, the government speaks earliest and loudest relative to developments such as occurred in Venezuela. Whither that voice, volume? Silence reveals how helpless this PPP Govt is. It reads no evil, knows none.
I’m glad to see the back of Senor Maduro; just don’t like the way it unfolded, notwithstanding the executioner. I’m not worried about America, which can take care of itself. I’m worried about Guyana, which always needs a babysitter. For there will be fallout. The Saturday/Sunday headlines came. I cringed. Try these few.
National unity immediately topped the local hit parade. Whoever is not for national unity is despicable. But national unity must not be the queen only embraced when threats loom, and anxiety haunts the land. National unity must be perennial, i.e., in perilous times, in peace times. Please rethink attacking and dividing Guyanese during times of peace, because sayings or writings unnerve, are too close for comfort.
Please consider who makes up the bulk of those guarding the borders, suddenly warm with activity. For a US ‘run’ Venezuela could see some of Maduro’s closest people hustling towards here. They are more dangerous now. There’s another risk: a US ‘run’ Venezuela could generate some insurgency, which fosters fear, hurry feet this way. Whatever the outcomes, it is the worst of times for Guyana’s leaders to pretend to have a grasp. Or fill blanks with platitudes.
National security was one headline that collected some ink. Like national unity, national security shouldn’t have dissenters. But this I say: from president to smallest citizen must experience national security at the individual level. What is healthy for state security is healthy for individual security. In the securing of local assets, who will be doing the securing?
The Regent Street gas station bombing indicated how vulnerable this country is, how many weak spots (larger and smaller) exist, how limited it is. It is imperative that every citizen is involved, contributes to national security. Like national unity, national security cannot be seasonal. Or subject to the manipulations of national leaders.
A headline/caption that attracted was prepare for a massive influx; and another: prepare for any eventuality. Both are well-received. Massive influx kindles a memory. When I tabled a year ago that Maduro could use that to undermine Guyana, the howls from State quarters were sharp: Traitor! Commissioner Clifton Hicken must check and charge. Hello and Happy New Year, Commissioner. Today, massive influx is gospel. Strange place this Guyana, a real fairytale country.
Prepare for any eventuality is sound on the eardrum, demands sensible marshaling of Guyana’s limited assets. The US will do much for Guyana for obvious reasons. Strategic, commercial, and military interests. Guyana has to do something, beside saying ‘present.’ The kindly recommendation is that the president speaks less to impress of being master of this type of game. He should work more towards wrapping his arms around the irregular rectangle that’s Guyana, to get something out of every Guyanese for the national cause. Where all are onboard, not through crass and hollow political salesmanship, but genuine national devotion.
Should all the headlines fall flat, the times still will be tough, the demands draining. For one, oil economics will change. If not in hour of conflict, not in a time of tension, then when will Guyanese learn, with leaders given first place? If the PPP Govt continues to make some Guyanese into enemies, then it becomes Guyana’s worst enemy. To which I add Guyana’s weakest link. National unity, national security and the others should be daily themes, priorities; not when Mr. Trump blows Venezuela wide open, and is now figuring out what to do next. America will prioritise its interests. Guyana must also. Or are US interests, Guyana’s interests?
