Dear editor,

THE first of three U.S. presidential debates was aired Tuesday night and was moderated by Chris Wallace who had little control over the participants, especially the wild and robust President Trump. It was more of a boxing match with insults without results, involving wrestling with arrogance and a shoot-out with dominance. America was once again put to shame by a leader who had scant respect for protocol and procedure and who glowed in profanities and obscenities. The chaotic debate was a flurry of falsehoods and reflected no hits but numerous misses, mostly by Trump and only one notable by Biden. In the words of Chris Wallace, “Look, no one — and I mean not any person currently alive on Earth — could have effectively handled this debate.

“Trump is like a rhetorical pile driver — he just talks and talks and talks. He has zero regard for rules, or other people, or politeness, or answering questions. You get the idea.” Trump, termed a “white supremacist,” even urged a violent, far-right group to “stand back and stand by” during a heated exchange over race relations in America.

According to America’s allies, they look to the USA to set the standard and what they witnessed was not a good thing and “the beacon of democracy was shrouded,” leaving no clear winner.

Hillary Clinton commented that she felt like telling Trump to “shut up” and she felt him crawling over her. No wonder the Democrats are selling T-shirts with a “shut-up” slogan from yesterday.

Guyana’s infectious disease created from the PNCR’s origin continues to spread across the world. According to a release this week from The Associated Press, Britain and Canada imposed sanctions Tuesday on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, his son and other senior government officials, following the country’s disputed presidential election and a violent crackdown on protesters in Belarus. The election was an acclaimed rigging exercise. As per UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, “The sanctions were part of a coordinated approach with Canada, in a bid to uphold democratic values and put pressure on those responsible for repression.” President Alexander Lukashenko, Europe’s longest-serving ruler, is facing unprecedented opposition to his power with massive protests. Mr. Lukashenko has been in power since 1994, with an authoritarian style reminiscent of the Soviet era, controlling the main media channels, harassing and jailing political opponents and marginalising independent voices.

It is heartening to note that there are civic-minded Guyanese in the society who are patriotic and want to do what is right for the country, even if it means relinquishing any illegitimate gains accumulated during the illegal stay in power by the PNCR. It simply reflects honesty and decency by the concerned parties and the willingness to put country before personal concern, thereby gaining the respect of the Guyanese public. Corum Group Inc, the developer with plans to construct a Holiday Inn hotel at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, has relinquished the five acres of prime lands allocated to it in what is being dubbed ‘a mad-rush’ deal by the previous APNU+AFC administration. The company is now the third developer that has opted to return lands to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to allow for a cleaner and more transparent process after it was discovered that the previous regime, through former Finance Minister Winston Jordan, vested the lands without due process. Navigant Builders Inc, a subsidiary of Windsor Estates and Cardiology Services Incorporated are the other two companies that initially relinquished their lands. Cardiologist Dr. Mahendra Carpen, Managing Director of Cardiology Services Inc., had secured the lands for construction of a state-of-the-art private hospital. The owners of these companies must be commended for their selfless acts and for abiding by the laws of the land. Will the other companies follow suit shortly to allow transparency and proper accountability to be the norm?

Weight is a heavy load to fetch and debt can lead you to death. The faster you can get rid of it, the better for you and your poor back and shoulders. Ole people always say, “Don’t do anything that gun make you regret later!” When APNU+AFC was in power and ruling the roost for five long, stressful years, Guyana witnessed how they plundered and devastated the economy at the expense of the poor, working- class people. The man in the street was used and abused from over taxation and low pay and benefits, while the upper echelons enjoyed the luxuries with duty-free concessions and humongous allowances. From the sweat and blood of the poor, the rich APNU+AFC politicians profiteered and benefited, living the good life. Now that the PPP/C is in government and removing the depression and suppression of the struggling class of people, the APNU+AFC cannot look “eyeball to eyeball.” No wonder like cowards hiding from any wrongdoing fumigated with mischief, the APNU+AFC members cannot come face to face and look those in the eyes who have always been championing the plight of the little man and woman. The PPP/C government initiated Bills to reverse those taxes and licence fees which were a burden to both sides of the political divide. Putting real money back in people’s hands will increase their spending power and create the rippling economic effect in society. How can that be regarded as a loss in revenue? APNU+AFC enjoyed the pocket revenue! Yes, it is a sad loss now. The PPP/C has demonstrated once again how to make the “small man the real man.”

Respectfully,
Jai Lall