FOR clarity sake, the equestrian metaphor enclosed in the caption above references Guyana’s upcoming national and regional elections and the influence of the moribund drug empire in Guyana. The pre-2015 will forever remain etched in the memory of Guyana’s drug empire as the glory days. During this period, this illicit trade reached its apogee with record profits which allowed them to infiltrate every crevice of the Guyanese society. Their triumph immediately ceased when David Arthur Granger took the oath of office on the balcony of the National Assembly on May 17, 2015. Ever since this auspicious national development, the ‘bosses’ have experienced very difficult days. They have been in decline for the past four years. All reports suggest they see the upcoming national elections as a chance to recapture their unfettered access to the state apparatus and to once again operate with impunity, running roughshod over the society. The modus operandi of drug gangs across the globe has been known to set their sights on infiltrating politics and national elections. There is nothing to suggest Guyana’s depleted drug empire will depart from this wretched practice and insofar as they do not deviate from this thrust, it is safe to conclude that they have a horse in Guyana’s imminent national elections.
The Drug Empire and Politics
Lest we forget, Pablo Escobar, one of the biggest drug lords in modern history, was elected to a seat in Columbia’s House of Representatives in 1982. The penetrators of the illicit trade understand the importance of seeking to influence the key decision-makers and the decision-making process. In the Guyana context, they seek to cut secret deals with candidates and fund political campaigns. Guyana is not Colombia, we cannot easily replicate their ignominious example. We may never see the blatant and open political solicitation of the drug underworld that seeks to get their dirty hands on access to power because, here, they are extremely subtle in the ways they solicit political influence. These efforts are so clandestine and surreptitious, it is near impossible to produce any evidence to argue the case which is being submitted here. However, this should not exclude focused analysis of this issue based on theoretical constructs, global trends and logical arguments. It is too consequential to be ignored based on the lack of evidence. Politics represents the avenue through which access is gained to those who control the state apparatus. The illicit trade thrives when there is control over the executive, the security forces and the Judiciary. Access and influence over the executive are not easily achieved and it is for this reason the dirty work begins during political campaigns. Using their unlimited ill-gotten financial largesse, they seek to emasculate Presidential candidates during the campaign season. There is no doubt this is occurring as I type and it is logical to conclude that His Excellency David Arthur Granger is not their man, they have seen their worst years under his watch. This begs the question, who is their guy? Basic logic would suggest that the party that controlled government when drug dealers enjoyed their best days would be their preferred choice.
The dangerous marriage between Drugs and politics
Once the party or presidential candidate favoured by the drug empire is victorious at national elections, the nation’s security is compromised. It does not matter what manifestos or promises document, the necessary repayment of the dirty contribution makes this a sad reality. The drug lord immediately communicates to his army that they may do as they wish, ‘we boy deh in power’. This scary boasting translates into the complete disruption of ordinary life and what we witnessed in the pre-2015 period will return with vengeance. It will manifest itself in the form of killers for hire, hit squads, numerous executions and above all, the targeting of political opponents. The narco-republic will return and lest we forget, the narco-Republic manifested itself in the daily lives of Guyanese in its ugliest forms. In the streets, killers and goons under the protection of powerful drug barons moved without fear of punishment or being answerable to the law. They killed at will and exacted violence on innocent civilians while boldly stating ‘I could kill you and nothing will happen’. They donned opulent gold chains, bought Toyota Allions, walked around with guns in waists and bestrode Guyana nightlife like untouchable giants. Bodies popped up everywhere and unsolved cases became the order of the day. Trepidation gripped the society, and law-abiding citizens cowered in their homes. In the festival of blood and guns, mothers cautioned their children and pleaded with them not [to]incur the wrath of the drug empire on their way to school or church. This all came to a screeching halt with the decent and honest Presidency of David Arthur Granger; but the time is here again. The day of reckoning is upon us and the beleaguered drug empire is determined to recreate the Narco-state. It is for this reason they are backing their horse in the race to the hilt.
What must be done to halt this frightening Enterprise?
All reports of consequence point to the rise and the thriving of the drug trade under successive PPP administrations. This is a well-established fact. It follows that if drug dealers experience high profits and joy under a particular government, they would need to have that government in place. Therefore, the battle to ensure their horse in the race does not win, the power of the vote must be used in its most potent form. What has to be done is that complex or sophisticated, it simply requires voting.
