Dear Editor,
The week in Guyana began on a sad note with the passing of PPP/C Member of Parliament, Bibi Shadick. On a prospective note, plans by DDL for an US$18M dairy plant at Soesdyke-Linden was announced and Pooran Brothers is to invest in a $300M sand/loam mining project in Essequibo. US manufacturer, Chemtech, is anticipating to invest US$200M in a port facility project as the horses kicked off at the Rising Sun Turf Club last Sunday. As ‘Silica City’ gets going with the clearance of 185 acres of land, President Ali flew to Trinidad & Tobago to partake in the launching of the EU-Guyana chamber of Commerce. Congratulations to Amel Griffith for winning the ‘Miss Jamzone’ crown. The roaring sound of the high tuned engines and the fast speed of the flying cars will occupy the ears and eyes of motor fans at the GMR&SC Int. car racing event on Sunday. Others will lay back and retreat on the weeks developments as captured below:

1)     “It is about your energy, youth, inspiration, ideas and how we can listen to see how you would like the world to be,” British High Commissioner, Jane Miller told the Youth Parliament participants. The world must not be seen through the eyes of the rebellious eight Coalition MPs.
2)     Carlos Silveira held up a sign in Brazil which read, “The military doesn’t count votes.” Guyana will not forget when Burnham ordered the Army to seize ballot boxes. Many PPP supporters died in defense of the ballot boxes and defiance of such illegalities. The PNC Party and current members are still proud of such infamous acts.
3)     “We have to give people a chance to either succeed or fail,” Minister within the Ministry of works, Mr. Deodat Indar remarked on the commissioning of Pixels Guyana East Bank project. The PPP/C Government does allow equal opportunity for entrepreneurship.
4)     “We will exhaust all efforts to ensure everyone is fully briefed,” assured Floyd Haynes. If only Raphael Trotman had adopted that approach before signing that lopsided oil agreement!
5)     “It is really to determine the validity of the costs claimed or the claimed costs,” the head of the audit consortium said. Interjections are many: Witch hunt, Got ya, See, or, I told you so. But the “let’s wait and see” may serve its realistic purpose.
6)     “The National Toshaos Council wishes to state that the case referred to is misleading and does not represent the true situation, as Guyana has one of the more sophisticated process of securing land rights for Amerindian peoples,” Derrick John had previously informed the UN Permanent Forum. Who is minding the store?
7)     Tiffany Johnson, co-founder of Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator commented, “And I am really glad I did because, now I am here… and who knows what is to come next.” Like they say, “The best is yet to come.”
8)     Canadian High Commissioner, Mr. Mark Berman sited, “Indigenous People have been the custodians of a vault of knowledge on the environment, arts, foods, medicines and traditions, to name a few, that we must preserve as we focus on a pathway to learning, respect and reconciliation. Giving due respect where it is owed!
9)     “We all forgot about the parking meter projects. Well, the company that was responsible has not forgotten,” reminded the Attorney General. Thanks former Mayor Patricia Chase-Green for putting Georgetown in a bigger and deeper hole.
10)                        The VP expostulates, “On the one hand, you see Rystad Energy and Exxon trying to prove that they are the best thing for Guyana, which is not so. The contract was bad, we have to change it in the future but we are not going to renegotiate now.” A silver lining with a sliver of hope?
11)                        Former Finance Minister opinioned, “Government is spending the oil money like wildfire and rushing the development of the oil…” Guru ji, if the PNC was in power, that government would have done one thousand times worse and you know it. It would have been “Déjà vu,” i.e., spending the money to pamper only the chosen few to live and enjoy “the good life” while the small man become the smaller man. The boys are missing out and hurting on the 100 per cent salary increase which was in the pipe dream!
12)                        Guyana President (ExxonMobil), Mr. Alistair Routledge surmises, “Yes, some people have criticised bundling, but it actually serves a very useful function in cascading opportunities…” Guyana has a popular proverb, “Careful who you tie bundle with.” A bundle can be a weight to fetch.
13)                        A Haitian Pastor commented, “The Bahamas is not America. In America, there isn’t any retaliation once you talk….” He can safely include Guyana alongside America. The PPP/C Government applauds, approves and appreciates all and sundry when they are vociferous. Freedom of speech is guarantee and encouraged without any fear or favour. Uncle Freddy is very liberal, sympathetic and inclusive in describing and analysing the many civic (civil?) societies comprising Guyana’s community: some masquerading as a single person; others aspired to be “lunatic fringe”; the “usual suspects” are openly veiled behind closed doors; the “Creole Middle Class” wants to be noticed and pampered; and … okay, to be an all-inclusive and impartial event… the PNC… is haunting, hurting and hegemonic?
14)                        The Honourable Attorney-General, Mr. Anil Nandlall was very explicit, explosive and exasperated when he declared, “The government will not leave the incompetent Georgetown M&CC to handle the case, because should the SCS win, the company can levy on City Hall. His Lordship, the Mayor, continues to hang an albatross around his neck proudly, pompously and portentously!
15)                        H.E. the President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali reflected at the passing of Bibi Shadick MP: “She knew this day would eventually come and she structured her life and her work always in preparation for this day.” The PNC thought that they will remain forever in power. They never imagined that they will not draw first blood in the management of the revenue from the oil industry. They were busy building castles in the air and shopping until the bottom of the bucket dropped out on 5Th August, 2020.
16)                        Berbice is referred to as the Ancient County, shortly to be renamed the Modern County; Essequibo is referred to as the Cinderella County; Demerara is referred to as the Garbage City from the known Garden City, thanks to all the mayors, past and present.
17)                        “Let whoever will win rule us.”  No, not words from Granger but from a Kenyan, Daniel Chepkwony.
18)                        “Forgive them Lord for they know not what they do,” said Nicaraguan Cardinal Brenes. He may as well be referring to the infamous eight suspended Coalition MPs.
19)                        President Ali told the residents of Orella and Siparuta: “You have in this government a team that is ready to embrace you, realising those aspirations.”  And the people replied, “We are with you. You have our support. We are behind you 100 per cent.” The PPP/C Party hit the ground running from day one in office and has not stopped to pause for breath. They do not wait to visit the hinterland only at election time like the PNC and to make countless, false promises.
20)                        Khemraj Ramjattan back peddles as he admits to his former administration’s errors in agreeing to the terms in the oil contract. The AFC Leader confessed, “We should support the government in any of its renegotiating process for a better deal…” Finally, he has the blessings of Norton to use the “R” word.
21)                        “It’s an exciting time to be in Guyana,” remarked the EEPGL President, Mr. Routledge. Indeed, cricket is in the air and it creates that magical moment of enthusiasm!
22)                        Playing offense, India remains on 75 Not Out and Pakistan playing supportively also on 75 Not Out, as, Guyana on the defense, joins them on 56 Not Out.
23)                        “They weren’t bloated. They were legally there,” GECOM Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh cautioned the Opposition in their scandalous accusation about any bloated voters’ list!
24)                        “He knows politics well as a former Minister of Home Affairs, so I expect him to bring his institutional knowledge here,” GECOM Chair, Claudette Singh beamed. Hats off to Mr. Clement Rohee on his appointment as a GECOM Commissioner.
25)                        “So, we need to have a staff that reflects what Guyana looks like and this is going to be extremely important,” newly appointed Commissioner, Clement Rohee reminded Guyana. The pleading voice of a local language speaks about an ailing and ancient affliction plaguing a mischievous and modern management. Induce a formula, less PNC’s math, so that the scale can be balanced in order to fix it now, not fumble it later.
26)                        “When the time comes, I will leave,” responded GECOM Chair, Claudette Singh, calmly and dismissively ignoring Norton, the man who wants to be king without a flock in no man’s land!
27)                        “When you listen to him speak about his policies, you realise that this man is in ‘la’ land; he is dreaming; he is not living in reality because every single thing he says, they did the very opposite when they were in government,” chided the Attorney-General in rebuking Norton’s absurdity! Is there a “Lost and Found” agency?
28)                        “More importantly, I am a firm supporter of His Excellency, the President of Guyana and I am absolutely convinced that it is not part of the President’s agenda to create any disparity based on race,” explained Floyd Haynes. Most people can still think for themselves and not be influenced by the Coalition’s illusion.
29)                        “Moreover, I completely reject the phrase ‘resisting the emerging apartheid state’ to describe conditions in Guyana. In my view, this statement is a disservice to all Guyanese, as such, I wish to categorically disassociate myself from it,” banker and financial expert, Floyd Haynes clarified. Ouch, that has to hurt the Opposition in all the wrong places! Racial insinuation will not be tolerated by any sober-minded person.
30)                        “We can’t have our people going to Suriname to spend three days to get a travel document to come back. It’s nonsense! Absolutely ridiculous,” President Ali protested.  Guyana’s President opens his mouth and puts his foot down in order to drive home his point.
31)                        “I hold firm to the belief that the previous administration acted in total disregard for citizens, whose tax-paying dollars could have been used more wisely,” Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill exclaimed. As the glaring and disturbing evidence was presented, Guyanese have the opportunity of being the judge, jury and executioner.
32)                         “The thought of oil money floating around has been creating exaggerated expectations by Guyanese who have begun to show impatience and want their years-long nagging problems, fixed almost immediately,” wrote former UG senior sociology lecturer, Dr. Tara Singh. The shrewd PPP/C Government will not encourage or indulge in any fly-by-night programme to resolve issues and remedy any malady.
33)                        President Ali told the gathering in TT, “You can look forward to a very actionable platform through which this relationship will advance and develop.” The PPP/C Government in its first two years in office has outclassed what the PNC Government did in their five years in office from 2015 to 2020. The PPP/C Government can boast about action in action. The PNC brags about action in inaction.
34)                        The Attorney-General took a swing and found the meat of the bat: “I have expressed my concern about the pace at which these cases are being dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court, or the lack of pace.” There is no hope of, Roberts to Holding, but, despair of, turtle to snail!
35)                        Speed or spin, Mr. Nandlall cleared the boundary with, “The magistrates within the system are not proceeding with the matter with the seriousness and expediency in which they should, having regard to the importance of the matter and having regard to the length of time the matters are pending before them.” And the canary sings about the “royalty of loyalty!” Guess, Burnham’s flag is still fluttering high!
Jenella Pollard is all smiles, winning Miss Region 10 pageant. Keesha St. John and Bayeeshmaal Ramsundar are smiling away after being awarded Fullbright Scholarships at universities in the US. Aldo smiled as the winner of the One-Mile trophy. Eileen Richards, a livestock farmer from Den Amstel, is smiling at 90 not out. Six-year-old Aden Persaud is back home smiling, after recovering from his illness. East Bank commuters are smiling with their four new LED screens commissioned by Leonard Gildharie, providing real-time viewing of the traffic flow. Dayvishanie Naipaul is dancing her way to India on a three-year scholarship and six more young ones will familiarise themselves on another trip. Lieutenant Terence De Peana will engineer his way to a Romanian scholarship. Ten beauties will be smiling for the Miss World Guyana. Do light up, not with a cigarette, but with George Eliot’s, “Wear a smile and have friends, wear a scowl and have wrinkles.”

Yours respectively,
Jai Lall