THE Kaieteur News seems to be embarking on another massive disinformation campaign against the PPP and former President Bharrat Jagdeo in a desperate attempt to distract attention from the opposition’s latest act of national disgrace and the national outcry against their act of denying Guyanese, especially the younger generation, the foundation upon which their future must be built.

This conclusion could be inferred from the front page comment of the August 11 edition of the Kaieteur News in which it promised to show its readers how Guyana was stolen from under their noses by former President Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP.

  But paradoxically, this mission is destined to achieve the exact opposite. It will certainly show how the opposition and its mouthpieces are denying the young people of Guyana  a prosperous future by preventing the government of the day from  laying the foundation for their future.
The Kaieteur News in its August 11 edition in an article captioned: “Mixed emotions on Sithe Global Withdrawal” sought to justify the opposition’s disgraceful act of rejecting the Amaila Hydro Electric Project, citing comments of three individuals, two of whom it elevated to the status of financial analyst, Ramon Gaskin and Christopher Ram. The third is economist, Professor Clive Thomas.
Let us examine some of the statements attributed to these three wise men of Guyana.
Statements attributed to Mr. Ramon Gaskin. First of all, if you ever looked at this gentleman performing on television you would naturally wonder if he is a comedian, a bluffer or both.  Here is your confirmation.
(1)He is reported to have shouted “Hallelujah” upon hearing the news that Shite Global pulled out of the Amaila Hydro Electric Project. Imagine Guyana, our beloved country has just lost its biggest and most important development project of all time,  a project that took in excess of 15 years to come to get off the ground, a project that will tremendously improve the lives of every Guyanese without exception, and Mr. Gaskin is praising God for that? How would you describe a person who shouts praise to God for an action that has the potential of destroying the future of an entire nation? And as if to add insult to injury, the Kaieteur News bestowed upon him the title of financial analyst.
(2) Mr. Gaskin is also reported to have said that the project will cause a sharp increase in electricity tariffs. If Mr. Gaskin is the financial analyst the Kaieteur News is portraying him to be, then he should have no problem proving this statement using facts and figures.  If he can’t then it is humbly suggested that he stop blowing hot air. Every financial analyst that I know of makes use of facts and figures to support their conclusions and so must Mr. Gaskin. Of all professions only one, that is, comedians, have the luxury of making statements without supporting them with facts and figures.
Statements attributed to Mr. Christopher Ram.  This suspenders man, who tries his utmost to imitate the most popular talk show host of all time, Mr. Larry King, has acquired not only the title of financial analyst, but political and legal analyst also, compliments of  the Kaieteur News. However, since the Attorney General, on quite a few occasions publicly embarrassed him as a legal analyst, he seems to have voluntarily discarded that title. Let us now see if he should also discard the title of financial analyst.
Mr. Ram is reported to have said that the cost associated with the  Amaila Hydro Electric Project is well over Guyana’s national debt and that there is no guarantee that there will be a reduction in electricity tariffs. According to the Kaieteur News, Mr. Ram and Gaskin also met with several stakeholders, including the private sector, politicians and the diplomatic corps all of whom doubted the feasibility of the Amaila Hydro Electric Project.  I am challenging Mr. Christopher Ram and Mr. Ramon Gaskin to identify by name those stakeholders.  If he can’t, it would be a clear indication of lying to the public, and if he should name them, then the public would be able to identify those who helped deny Guyana cheap, reliable and abundant energy.
Interestingly, the President, in his address to the nation, in plain, simple language debunked all of Mr. Christopher Ram’s claims. The President,  using figures, showed every one  that Guyana’s national debt will increase by a whopping zero dollar as a result of the project, that the country will save a minimum of US 600M (120 Billion Guyana Dollars) over a period of 20 years which, is itself equal  to approximately 75% of the project’s cost.  Not to mention the approximately $80 billion that would be left in the pockets of consumers, both domestic and commercial. A total of approximately 200 billion Guyana dollars will therefore, be saved over a 20-year period. At an approximate cost of 30 million dollars to construct one mile of asphalted concrete street, 200 billion will give us 6,667 miles of much needed streets.  That is more than Guyana’s existing road network.
Statements attributed to Professor Clive Thomas.  The person I least expected to publicly discredit himself by attempting to discredit the Amaila Hydro Electric Project is Professor Clive Thomas. Why would an accomplished professor of economics want to discredit such a project? He is reported by the Kaieteur News to have said that there is a possibility that the cost of electricity will be raised even higher after the project comes on stream.  If it is true that the good professor said so, then it is most amazing since as a professor of economics he is well aware that projects such as the Amaila Hydro Electric Project are judged on the basis of cost benefit analyses.  Has he done one? Where is it? Figures!
The Kaieteur News also attributed a statement to Professor Thomas to the effect that within five years after completion, Amaila will be unable to meet Guyana’s demand for power. This one statement is in conflict with and defeats every single criticism of the Amaila Hydro Electric Project because there could be only one reason for that, that is, a sharp increase in the demand for energy as a result of increased economic activities. Is this not something positive about the Amaila Hydro Electric Project? It is the clearest indication yet by the opposition of how fast Guyana will be developing as a result. It is also a clear indication of the time within which Guyana must build its capacity to provide the additional energy that will be needed as a result of accelerated growth-a direct result of the Amaila Hydro Electric Project.  It is only natural, therefore, that as Guyana develops it will need additional sources of energy and I am sure the government and private sector are aware of this fact.
As I said, the Kaieteur News will achieve the exact opposite of what they have set out to do. Do they really think that Guyanese are that stupid? We just made history at the Caribbean Examination’s Council Exams. Thanks to the PPP’s investments in education. Cheap energy is the next target.