The Opposition is playing a dangerous game with Guyana’s current and future development

(Continued)A few days ago, the people over at Kaieteur News made a very interesting admission and confirmed what many had already known. With mounting pressure, after the truth behind many of their insidious stories were exposed, they desperately tried in vain to cast themselves in a ‘holier than thou’ light but in the process, it stumbled out that their mission in Guyana is to ‘pull down…to destroy…to throw down…’. Apparently this is directed to all the development and development projects under successive PPP/C Governments and the excuse given to justify their efforts ‘to destroy’ is perceived ‘corruption’.
However, if by this yardstick of ‘perceived corruption’ Kaieteur News is focused on destroying our country, then clearly they must begin with destroying ‘themselves’ as the allegations of corruption levelled at individuals associated with that newspaper are countless. Even the secret US cables revealed that much.
With this in mind, it is now clear why the newspaper has so often been accused of facilitating the political opposition’s efforts to undermine development in Guyana. By its own admission, ‘to destroy’ is its numero uno agenda. Hence, the endless scathing stories against any and every project. They started attacking Government on allegations of corruption on the Amaila Falls Road Project and its decision to hire Fip Motilall and his Synergy Company to execute the works. Then in the end after Government took away the project from Fip, ‘Kaieteur flipped’ and it was no longer some ‘sinister collaboration between the contractor and the Government’ but they now published a long story with Motilall attacking the Government for withdrawing the contract. However, at no point did he ever indicate any shady dealings or ever being approached for any kickbacks as was being constantly promulgated by Kaieteur. The ceaseless vilification campaign ended up playing a crucial part in destabilising the project. Touché!
If my memory serves me correct, Kaieteur News has not ever come out publicly and stated its support for any project which will move Guyana forward. Rather, they are intent on relaxing in their armchairs and using their imaginary friends and sources to come up with dubious stories, without making an effort to verify any details before publishing. In this light, they have been used expertly by the opposition to achieve their desired ends and who better to facilitate that process, than the current editor-in-chief of the entity who was the media tsar for the opposition during their period of dictatorship in Guyana. No wonder the newspaper has such an affinity for ‘destruction’ as I guess it is difficult to break out from that previous culture of degradation.
Having established the link between the political opposition and certain media entities, in their efforts to dismantle any sign of progress and their tag-team effort to chase investors out of Guyana, it is now necessary to return to another mode of attack by the opposition: their ‘stalling’ game.
The ongoing court case on the 2012 budget cuts by the opposition is another example. We are now in 2014, but the opposition seems determined to do any and everything to stall the conclusion of this case, bearing in mind that a preliminary ruling has already been made by the Acting Chief Justice which states that the action of the AFC and APNU in cutting the budget was unconstitutional.
Old Kai is now left to ponder if this is the reason Opposition Leader, David Granger has refused to support efforts to confirm the Chief Justice and Chancellor. These two gentlemen have acted with distinction in their respective positions for several years, but yet the opposition keeps on ‘stalling’ with their refusal to support their confirmation. Just recently the media also reported that Mr. Granger has staunchly refused to reveal his reasons for refusal, but this is an example of their hollow position on matters of transparency and accountability. Clearly Mr. Granger, who occupies a constitutional position, does not feel he is accountable to this nation for his actions as opposition leader, but instead he prefers to lecture others in this regard.
This complete disregard for our constitutional bodies when it does not serve their purpose also extends to their public refusal to be bound by any decision of the judiciary. This much was articulated by no less than attorney-at-law and APNU MP, Basil Williams, following the removal of the Opposition leader and Finance Minister from the budget cut case. Nevertheless, they appealed the decision in the Full Court and it was thrown out. We are now hearing that they are prepared to take their cause all the way to the CCJ, so it does not look likely that final determination in the budget cut case will be completed anytime soon, compliments of the APNU. In the meantime, cumulatively, they have slashed over $50 billion from the national budgets for 2012 and 2013, denying Guyanese much needed resources for their continued development. This is the dangerous game the opposition is playing with our lives and future development of our country.