THE Guyana Chronicle interviewed me in July 2023 in its podcast for its programme titled, “Personality Profile.” I was asked what plans I have for my political life. I indicated that at my age, I think I want to move on and live a quiet existence (I prefer the word ‘existence” to “life” because I believe in the philosophy of existentialism and its powerful explanation of the meaning of existence as against life) and leave the space I once occupied to young people.

On my first meeting with President Ali, he asked in what capacity I would like to serve his government. My immediate reaction was whatever role could be assigned to me, I wanted to see young Guyanese be given that placement. I told my Chronicle interviewer I would like to see someone like Joel Bhagwandin take up where I left off.
There is political space for younger people like Bhagwandin and that avenue becomes exigent when one thinks of the confluence of class and colour in the opposition to the Guyana Government since Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali became President in August 2020. What has taken place in this country since August 2020 is the attempt by people driven by class, colour and culture to bring about a new dispensation that was yearned for way back in the 1940s.

Each day, there is one manifestation or the other of this confluence of class and colour and as we move closer to a general election, its viciousness will expand and get louder. It will intensify as we creep closer to November 2025. The latest manifestation is an attack on Bhagwandin by a diaspora member, Mr. Mike Persaud, who belongs to the anti-oil lobby. The Stabroek News (SN) contacted the Procurement Commission (PC) to ask for a comment on whether a conflict of interest exists with Bhagwandin being a commissioner of the PC and his consultancy with ExxonMobil Guyana.

SN ran a story on Bhagwandin and he responded. The Bhagwandin response to SN has two dimensions that need to be highlighted. The first one is the role of the press. The SN issued an advisory to presidential adviser, Professor Randolph Persaud, that it cannot publish his letters because they are critical of civil society groups. Dr. Persaud showed me the exchange.
To discuss the controversy in my capacity as a media practitioner, I spoke with the editor-in-chief of SN, Mr. Anand Persaud. He declined to speak to me. Now let’s look at the second dimension. Is the SN in a conflict of interest with Mr. Timothy Jonas? He heads an opposition party, ANUG. Mr. Jonas is the legal officer for SN. He also sits on SN’s board.

Is that a conflict of interest? It is. And it has a more labyrinthine content than the case with Bhagwandin and the PC. Mr. Bhagwandin would have opened himself to curiosity if ExxonMobil Guyana had a tender in front of the PC and Bhagwandin at the meeting batted for the oil major. That has never happened and there is a simple exit avenue – recuse yourself as Bhagwandin said he did.
The conflict of interest with SN and Mr. Jonas is more problematic. He is an opposition leader in Guyana that sits on the policy-making body of the newspaper. He has not resigned nor has he been requested to resign. I called the SN’s editor once more to ask about the composition of the board. Mr. Persaud declined to name the members and suggested that I do my investigation. This is the very newspaper that requested a comment from the PC on Bhagwandin.

Before I move on to Mr. Mike Persaud that attacked Bhagwandin for his consultancy, three things need to be made public. One – Denis Chabrol refused to comment on the constitutional amendments he is proposing to the Guyana Press Association (GPA). Two – as one of the biggest investors of Mr. Chabrol’s outfit – Demerara Waves – would Mr. GHK Lall inform his employee that he has to speak to the press?
Mr. GHK Lall says he is a devout Catholic (Heaven forbid!) and speaks about the importance of truths. I wonder if these truths are objective or they exist in his Catholic mind only. Three – Nazima Raghubir, president of the GPA has refused to offer me a comment on her controversial election to the GPA. Now for Mr. Persaud. He used his mental faculties to come to the analysis that Bhagwandin is selling out Guyana (his use of words) by being a consultant with ExxonMobil Guyana. But the same mental faculties disappeared when Persaud analysed the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News. He refers to two politicised, opposition-aligned newspapers as independent newspapers. Honestly, give me a Bhagwandin any day over the likes of Persaud.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.