Dear Editor,
A DRAMATIC week which proved traumatic for Guyanese began on a delightful note, but ended on a dour note. As President, Dr Irfaan Ali informed the world that the Commonwealth requires bold, innovative thinking to navigate global crises, at the Summit, the Commonwealth Nations also backed the legal process to end the Guyana/Venezuela controversy.

The conversation at home continues with Godfrey Statia from the GRA pointing out that the two per cent royalty is not a cost in computing Guyana’s oil profit.

As the threat of a $10 million fine for misleading information was issued, social media misleading data may have contributed to the fiasco and mayhem which erupted at Mon Repos to catapult the country into a state of grief and sorrow as vendors were maliciously beaten and robbed in a vicious attack by looters.

Aggrieved, Guyanese would want to spare a pensive moment to chew and digest on the following excerpts:

1. “The Commonwealth is richer for the breadth and depth of talented leaders who dedicate themselves to the family of nations,” said re-elected Commonwealth
Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland in Rwanda. President Irfaan Ali is one of them, legally and legitimately elected, not selected.

2. “But what really defines us are the values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter and the commitment to good governance and the protection of rights,” Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame instilled. The Charter does not accommodate the rigging of elections.

3. “After 28 years of inaction, bipartisan members of Congress came together to heed the call of families across the country,” commented President Joe Biden. He must have been reminiscing on the cruelty of 28 years of PNC dictatorship!

4. The Ministry of Education will provide all of the Mathematics and English textbooks, free of cost, to students from Grades 7 to 13 from the next school year. How about same to those who cannot calculate the half of 65 and are still in Parliament?

5. “We fight for political power but nonchalantly give away our patrimony,” Christopher Ram declared.  All thanks to the generosity of the APNU+AFC coalition and Trotman for signing the lopsided and binding oil contract.

6. “Our Democracy is under threat,” confessed Denise. The writer asked, “Who cares?” Well, the PPP/C Party did and won the elections in 2020 to restore democracy. “Who benefits?” the questioner continued. The people do with all the tax reliefs, cash grants and numerous projects in process to propel the nation to prosperity by the PPP/C government. “Who organizes chaos and confusion?” Denise insists. Who else but those on the opposing side of the political spectrum, who propagate lies, propaganda, dishonesty and deceit.

7. “So why have these caring politicians not resolved the poverty issues 56 years after independence?” A fair question to ask by the analyst. Consider, it took one party 28 years to destroy this country, its rival 23 years to repair the damage, yet the next five years for the destroyer to devastate the nation again and now, the saviour is voted in to perform a miracle once again to rebuild.

8. “There can be nothing more traumatising than having to flee the land of your birth, often with little more than the shirt on your back – to go to someone else’s country where everything is strange and new,” a refugee wrote. So true, Burnham and the PNC Party caused thousands of Guyanese to flee Guyana and seek refugee status in other countries.

9. “I speak on behalf of the PPP/C Government headed by President Ali and I say that our party in government and out of government…. our party is firmly committed to democratic governance…respecting the will of the people when they speak,” Snr Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh declared. Over to the Opposition for their endorsement on behalf of their party!

10. A lesson to learn from a person living with a disability, Lokesh Mathura, who was born with a condition called congenital amputation. Guyana salutes this father who is an assistant pharmacist and can do anything.

11. “Influence is not something that should be misused, it should not be seen as a power,” Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud told the Young Influencers. APNU+AFC is certainly making it easier daily for young people to get on board the PPP/C bandwagon.

12. “We believe not only in tourism as a way to market Guyana, but also as a way to drive economic activity for every single region and every community,” Minister Walrond mentioned. President Irfaan Ali is Guyana’s best marketing representative internationally, being an active, charismatic and adorable partner on all global platforms.

13. “I needed to heal physically and mentally,” Serena Williams told reporters. Guyana is in the same boat, still reeling from APNU+AFC’s pain and agony caused from 2015-2020.

14. GHK philosophizes: “We will relive the 2020 elections in all its ugliness and dig a deeper hole for ourselves. Yes, it will so disturb our spirits.” There are some things Guyana cannot afford to forget and some things Guyanese want to forget.

15. A speedboat carrying some comedians ended up in a boat accident in the Essequibo River. There was nothing funny to laugh about during that mishap.

16. Amnesty International America’s Director, Erika Guevara-Rosas said about ‘the prisoners of conscience’ who are being held for exercising their rights, that, “the men’s trials in Cuba are a shameful example of the human rights crisis caused by the Cuban Government’s decade-long policy of repression.” A visit by the US delegation failed to secure the release of eight Americans detained in Venezuela. Nicaragua shut down some 101 civic organisations and charities, including a branch of Mother Theresa. The aftermath of not being invited to the Ninth Summit of the Americas?

17. The dynamic Indian cricket team will highlight the West Indies “Summer of Cricket.” Lovely cricket will be played in Trinidad and St. Kitts. Guyana fell through the crack! Ouch. Chai Bhai?

18. “All I ask for is leniency, so that I can serve the time and resume back to society as a brand-new man,” pleaded convicted child rapist Andrew. There was a 1967 Western movie, “God Forgives, I Don’t” starring Terence Hill and Bud Spencer.

19. “So, in each of these 10 regions, we want to make sure these services are available,” stressed Minister Dr Frank Anthony. Yet, the critics claim discrimination and biased treatment for prioritised treatment. You can never please some people.

20. Colonel Khan mentioned that, LCPL Garraway, “represented the force well, both in and out of uniform.” Hats off to this honourable soldier, setting a fine example for everyone in uniform.

21. A fallen star, Raymond ‘Ray’ Robinson, will not shine again. An icon with the BGBS, the stalwart for a radio announcer will long be remembered in the broadcasting annals of Guyana.

22. “The world today is full of hatred and strife,” said Mr Harte, a father of five from GT. How does a peaceful protest over the death of Mr Bacchus lead to East Coast Demerara chaos and mayhem, during which vendors were beaten, robbed and looted of their goods, vehicles are set on fire and roads are blocked?

23. Sports is healthy with discrimination as racer Hamilton observed that, “It’s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport.” Even former BBC cricket Commentator, Michael Vaughn, was alleged to have said about Pakistani players that there were,” too many of you lot, we need to do something about it.”

24. “What happened at Mon Repos had its roots in development at West Coast Berbice in 2020. No one was ever brought to justice for these attacks,” Tom reminded Guyana. “The protests are being politicized!”

25. “Our national ecosystem, including oil and gas, is God-given, so it cannot be claimed or owned by every government or political party, it belongs to the people of the nation and they should benefit from the wealth that is being generated,” remarked Suriname’s President Santokhi. The PPP/C Government is transparently accountable for the revenues generated from oil. APNU+AFC is yet to account for the US$18 million signing bonus received!

26. The aliens have arrived and are being blamed for the COVID-19 outbreak at the border of North Korea.

As Guyana joins with its 19 other countries to celebrate the 49th anniversary since the signing of The Treaty of Chaguaramas, do have a safe, great and long holiday weekend, enjoying CARICOM Day. Remember, “a smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” Happy CARICOM Day.

Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall