Post-Bynoe politics

Dec 03, 2008 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

I was leaving the ATM on Camp Street and on the pavement, I met Mark Benschop. He promised me an interview after I relayed to him a rumour that is often repeated in little parliaments that are dotted all over the Georgetown scene, as is common in many West Indian countries. It is said that in exchange for the presidential pardon, Mr. Benschop pledged to eschew open political condemnation of the Jagdeo Government. He denied it and agreed that I could carry a published version of our interview. Now with the Bynoe pardon, I will pursue that discussion sooner than later.
The fact remains, however, Mark Benschop is absent from the political airwaves. He comes across like Ravi Dev. At one time, Mr. Dev had a weekly television programme and his weekly page in Kaieteur News. But he would only discuss philosophical and theoretical issues in Guyanese politics, never commenting on nasty violations committed by the state.
I once wrote a few years ago that if the state mashes up the business of the sugar-cake lady on the pavement, has her arrested and thrown in jail, Mr. Dev would move on with his debate of Nietzsche rather than voice support for the poor soul.
Mr. Benschop seems to find Mr. Dev’s opportunistic reticence useful because we don’t hear from Mr. Benschop at all. I wonder what Mr. Benschop thinks of the following – the fatal heart attack of Joseph O’Lall, which many blamed on his dismissal by President Jagdeo from his state job; the death of David de Caires, which might have come about because of the strain put on his already weak heart over the pressure on his newspaper by the withdrawal of state placements for over eighteen months; the prolongation of the life of the Ethnic Relations Commission, even though the law stipulates that its life is based on a two/third parliamentary vote; the stoppage of state subsidy to the Critchlow Labour College; the state of the Integrity Commission; the torture of suspects in police custody. Shall I go on, Mr. Benschop?
I live at a time in Guyana when the entire society saw where Burnham was taking Guyana. I was young then and full of energy and ideas. I knew Burnham was learned and visionary, but I knew Burnham had every intention to capture every ounce of power and use it to maximum use without regard to democratic principles. It was clear to see where Burnham was going. We woke up one morning and found that the population of Guyana had run away, Walter Rodney was murdered and the economy had collapsed. We let it happen. We are seeing the same trend again. We are letting it happen again.
So what next in this post-Bynoe period? The strongmen in the corridors of power are testing the sweetness of power. Victory is all theirs. Mr. Dev, an East Indian critic, has drifted away. Mr. Benschop is silent. Mr. Bynoe may follow a path of non-involvement in political matters. Professor Clive Thomas has come out swinging in support of President Jagdeo’s crusade against the EPA, and has dubbed the two-hour nonsense at the Convention Centre as meaningful participation by the Guyanese stakeholders. Mr. Robert Corbin is on one of those mystical trips that the Beatles were famous for whenever they left the limelight and travelled to India. Mr. Corbin was consulted this week by President Jagdeo on climate change.
Seems that Mr. Corbin is more interested in climate change than political change! I wonder which one his supporters have prioritised. Sadly, one of the influential voices to get the attention of the international community is dead. David de Caires passed away last month. He was definitely a person that could have received a positive response from powerful actors in the international community that could bring some pressure on elected dictatorship in Guyana. So the elected dictators are rejoicing. They must be feasting at the table of delectable victory. It reminds of the line in the fantastic rock tune, “Hotel California”:
“Mirrors on the ceiling,
The pink champagne on ice.
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device.
In the master’s chambers, they gathered for the feast.
They stab it with their steely knives
But they just can’t kill the beast.”
So what can we expect in this post-Bynoe period of political policies? Will we see more authoritarian drama? Will there be moves toward conciliation? The French have a saying: “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” The French have another saying: “People deserve the government they get.”
The French have yet another saying: “God is dead, Marx is dead and I’m not feeling too well myself.”

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