The combined political Opposition parties appear to be executing a carefully orchestrated plan to create political, social, and economic instability in the country, with the aim of giving more steam to the No-Confidence Motion which will be tabled in Parliament this October. These parties have realised that in order to muster up more electoral support and get ahead of the PPP/C before the impending parliamentary debate, they must create an environment where there is distrust for the government, widespread uncertainty, fear and a general feeling of hopelessness among the citizenry.…
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China in overseas forestry
Over the last month, there has been much heat, but little light, generated by the Kaieteur News over the Chinese company Bai Shan Lin’s investment in Guyana’s forestry sector. The company has been accused of a host of negative activities ranging from being a poor corporate citizen to flagrantly violating the terms and conditions of their contracts that were supposed to be in compliance with the laws of Guyana. The attacks on Bai Shan Lin are only the latest, albeit the most sustained, on Chinese investments in general in Guyana.…
Read MoreMatching talk with money
Among the highlights of the Caricom-Japan Summit which was recently held in Trinidad and Tobago is an initiative which entails a US$15 million grant to boost the Region’s capacity to overcome the impacts of natural disasters. This project will enable countries in the Caribbean, including Guyana, Suriname and Belize, to enhance their adaptive capacity to climate change and natural disasters. Caribbean countries share common vulnerabilities, ranging from debt and excessive dependence on international trade to climate change and rising sea levels. For example, most of Jamaica was left without electricity,…
Read MoreWhen elephants fight
There is an old African saying that whether elephants fight or make love, the grass suffers. When applied to the international state system, fights or alliances between the “big” powers are usually to the detriment of smaller nations. However, in the present face-off between the Western and Russian elephants, there might be an opportunity for some smaller nations to improve their condition. It started with Russia taking sides with separatists in Ukraine seeking to resume their unification that was sundered only a couple of decades ago. In the larger scheme…
Read MoreThe power of sport
The Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2014 tournament is not yet over, but still, it has pleasantly reminded us of the power and influence of sport, and in the Guyana and Caribbean context, cricket is uniting our oftentimes divided people. Thus far in the tournament, we have seen fans jumping in joy, waving flags of support, blaring horns, and engaging in light banter, among others, in a picnic, carnival-like atmosphere. In Guyana, the tournament had witnessed some of the biggest and most vocal crowds since the commencement last month. During…
Read MoreHousing and Socio-economic change
Over the last five years, there has been massive transformation in the housing and construction sectors in Guyana, with thousands of Guyanese benefiting directly from approximately 30,538 house lots distributed. The transformation of these sectors has also seen some 6991 squatter settlements regularised throughout the country, albeit with varying levels of resistance from those who were ‘settled’ in squatting areas, primarily along Guyana’s coastal belt. Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali himself spearheaded more than 59 one-stop shops, which gave thousands of Guyanese access to several distinct and core services…
Read MoreGuyana at BRICS Summit
As soon as the Football World Cup would have climaxed, Brazil will be hosting the Sixth Summit of the BRICS bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa on July 15-16. As part of a BRICS outreach strategy to emerging economies, a working session will be held on July 16 between the heads of states of BRICS and their counterparts from the governments of South American nations, including Guyana. This is a signal opportunity for Guyana to recalibrate its foreign policy to take into account the rising importance of…
Read MoreGlobal Renaissance Woman
The world is still mourning the loss of famed poet, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou who was found dead in her university apartment last week. For many who have been following her life and her extensive work in various fields, there could never be enough words to describe what her death means, not only to Americans, but citizens all over the world. Her work and her life story in general have inspired millions to not only better themselves but to help others…
Read MorePolice excesses
The customary outrage that comes after any incidence of Police excesses was not evident last week when a Cadet Officer shot Alex Griffith in the mouth during the process of escorting him to the Brickdam Police Station on allegations that he was witness to a robbery of the said officer’s relative. The silence by citizens and the scores of human rights organisations in Guyana today is perhaps an indication of how sick our society has become of these types of atrocities from our lawmen. Still to resolve the episode involving…
Read MoreUndermining Parliament
Parliament is one of the key institutions of our system of governance. Nowadays, people seem to have forgotten the distinction and difference between an “institution” and an “organisation” and maybe because of that lapse of collective memory, there is not a greater public outcry in the steady undermining of the institution of Parliament by the Opposition. Even an elementary definition of “institution” such as provided by Wikipedia advises: “An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order governing the behaviour of a set of individuals within a given community……
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