I WAS present at the GMSA luncheon on Tuesday March 17, 2015 where David Granger was the featured speaker. His purpose was to address the business community on his plan to develop Guyana. This was my first time listening to David Granger Live and in person. His opening quote to start the presentation was vitriolic and repulsive.Mr. Granger started off with a military quote. No surprise there and to his critics who frequently charged him as being too militaristic. I was repulsed by his military quote. I suspect that if Granger is to become the President, Guyana will be militarized yet again.
Drawing reference to a statement made by a British General during World War I of the British Infantry as being “Lions led by donkeys” Granger stated “Guyana Is Land of Jaguars Being Led By Jackasses.” According to a News Source article Granger said “Guyana is a land of jaguars but we are led by jackasses. People want development, people want to get out, they want to be rich, they want to be like other countries but they are led by jackasses.”
I was shocked at his statement. I suspected that he was looking for a good media sound bite and wanted to follow on the heels of Bharrat Jagdeo’s “kick ass” comment. “Guyana being led by jackasses” became the running theme of Mr. Granger’s speech.
Aside from his banal, no-substance and lack-of-specifics speech, I had to prop myself up before I fell asleep. When it came to the Q&A segment of the programme, a bold young man from the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce (GCCI) stood up and voiced his aversion to Granger’s ‘jackass’ comment.
Granger turned full circle and said his quote was taken out of context; that he did not call his adversaries ‘jackasses’; and that he does not engage in that sort of politics. I nearly fell off my chair, as Granger was attempting to hoodwink the entire gathering of titans of the business community in Guyana.
No one else called him out for his lies. Then again, most of his presentation from Amaila and Anti-money laundering was fallacious. To my surprise, Granger said the latter projects would be supported in his administration.
I suspect that when President Ramator addresses this very gathering in April, he would not be treated with the same ease that the business community afforded Mr. Granger. Most in the room sat by and allowed Mr. Granger to perpetuate his lies. I suspect that they were mostly hungry, and had to wait on Granger to finish his presentation and Q&A before they could eat lunch and hence few pressing issues or calling Granger out on his fallacies.
In closing, Mr. Editor, I would like to reiterate that I am young, well-educated and a first time Guyanese voter. I read a lot and follow the happenings of Guyana’ politics. I will not be fooled by Mr. Granger and he cannot pull the wool over my eyes. He should be truthful with the nation. His jackass reference was a major turn off.
NAME WITHHELD