FAMOUS British-Guyanese journalist, John Mair (AKA- Bill Cotton) wrote the following in yesterday’s (Sunday) Stabroek News: “I’ve noticed that GHK Lall rarely mentions Azruddin Mohamed in the many columns he pens, and his alleged gold smuggling activities discovered by the U.S. authorities. There is no relation to GHK’s job under the previous administration, is there? He was I believe, Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board! Strange link. But true?”

Before I move on, let me repeat a sentiment I echoed on the Freddie Kissoon Show. I made the point to co-host, Leonard Craig, that the ruling party, separately from the government and the government itself, lack an effective response team to confront and expose fault-lines of their critics. I offered Craig one example.

A tape was released to the public with Mr. Christopher Ram’s behaviour in the classroom in a law course at UG. The university said it was investigating. Mr. Ram is quoted in Demerara Waves declining to offer a comment. Because his hostility to the government is relentless, one would have thought that either the PPP or the government would have had a public discussion on what Mr. Ram was alleged to have done or ask the university to make a statement on its findings.

It is the identical situation with GHK Lall (GHKL) whose incessant rampage against the government is far more illogical and malignant than Christopher Ram and the Stabroek News. I do a daily column and GHK is never on my radar. I chose that position because he is intellectually dry and his frequent pieces are just a “lashing out.”

GHKL’s pieces are not the kind of stuff from which young people can learn anything from because there is no analytical content. This is quite different from Peeping Tom who is an educated person at the graduate level. So, I find it revolting to give GHKL any publicity. From his media evolution after he returned to Guyana from the U.S. when he was in his late sixties, GHKL is simply an uncontrollable publicity-seeker.

But he was chairman of the Gold Board just five years ago. Yet nothing is written about his tenure at that sensitive, tempting institution and PPP researchers have not put him on their radar. John Mair has now provided them with an opportunity to look at his tenure. And just to remind you – Mair’s letter was carried in the Stabroek News.

Before we continue, maybe for clarity I should define what the word, “jikungu” means so my readers would not remain hazy. It is a tropical African plant that is grown for its seeds that yield an unbelievable amount of oil. I don’t want to go further than that.

I have been reliable informed that GHKL bought an expensive house in a high-priced real estate area near the Georgetown Hospital. That house has been featured in the press by Lall himself when he wrote that twice on different occasions, a car was circling near his home in the wee hours of the morning. In writing about that so-called drama, Lall described where he lives. And I have been told by a source that I regard as a friend that GHKL has investment in Demerara Waves (DW).

This is the third time in my Chronicle pieces I have made reference to the Lall-DW connection. But there has never been a response by Lall or DW. It is simple. Either you confirm it or say there is no such connection. Just name a place I worked at or the state board I am on, and I will respond. Mr. Glen Lall, owner of the Kaieteur News, stated on his Tik Tok show that I am in receipt of millions from Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo.

Here is my response which was carried before on my Chronicle page. I have not seen Mr. Jagdeo since 2000 and just had a fleeting glimpse of him at the Convention Centre on March 2, 2021. I was entering, he was leaving. I have not spoken to Mr. Jagdeo since 2000.

I am not in receipt of any money from Mr. Jagdeo. Let me know which state institution you heard I am functioning with, and I will respond. I have been a public intellectual and social activist a long, long time now, so I have an obligation to level with the Guyanese people.
GHKL has a very special place at the Stabroek News. I am asking the newspaper here and now if GHKL has shares in the paper.

As for John Mair’s question about if GHKL knows the trillionaires who are gold exporters, he should answer. Two gold exporters are literally trillionaires. I end without details. I am too old to fetch court steps.

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.