The fallout from a State House eviction

Jan 23, 2009 Features / Columnists, Stella Says

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When something happens to upset one’s apple cart, one lashes out. A snake that is disturbed strikes out; a cat that is cornered attacks with a vehemence that belies its size; it is the same with a rat; a dog that has its back to the wall could be extremely dangerous; a woman scorned can be one of the most cruel and irrational persons.
This week, a woman, the wife of President Bharrat Jagdeo, was asked to leave State House, where she had continued to live long after the union between herself and the President had come to an end. This sparked one of the bitterest tirades that have set tongues wagging and have sparked all manner of conversations.
Indeed, there are those who are blaming the Government and alleging all manner of things. Some have even made the quantum leap to suggest that the Government is full of wife beaters and that women’s organizations should come out and protest.
Nothing could be further from the truth and already some women’s organizations have indicated that they will not act on rumours.
Further, one of them has said that any aggrieved woman should present herself to them and provide evidence of any abuse.
In the first instance, the President is not the first Guyanese man to seek a divorce from his partner. Except for the fact that he is a public figure, the news would not have seen the light of day.
More than two years after the separation, she has come out with allegations of hi-tech cruelty and charges of being starved of state funds. She also alleged many other things that, if checked, would prove to be false and unfounded. However, a bitter woman knows no bounds in her attempts to lash out at the person who incurs her anger.
Suffice it to say that most women, at the end of their divorce, would move on with their lives; rarely would they impose themselves on their estranged partners. Ms Varshnie Singh was allowed to continue with many things, including the opportunity to parade as the wife of the President even after the divorce.
It was during this period, by way of use of stationery emblazoned with the words ‘From the desk of the First Lady’ that she secured medical treatment for some people in Trinidad; and when the bill could not be paid, the people, quite rightly, turned to the President.
There were reports in the Trinidad press and even in the local press that the wife of the president could not pay her bills. This was announced in the courts, much to the embarrassment of the President and the people of Guyana.
That apart, the former First Lady went public with a charge that she was denied allowances due to First Ladies. There have been others before her holding this title, and three of them are alive. Any reasonable person would seek from the three information pertaining to that allowance. There was never such allowance.
The charge that she was denied state assets could be made by thousands of Guyanese. State assets are what they are, and when one is close to the seat of power, one must be extra careful. Quite rightly, President Jagdeo sought to avoid any allegation or any hint of corruption. He sought, too, to avoid other private organizations seeking favours similar to those given to the organization headed by his wife.
Still fresh in the minds of many is the request for a state vehicle, which when denied sparked some embarrassment, because the ex-wife of the President set out to make it appear as though she was being discriminated against.
President Jagdeo, when he was in the opposition, and later, when he became Finance Minister, voiced objections to the then President Desmond Hoyte selling state vehicles to staff members of the Office of the President. It turned out that President Hoyte was in his right to dispose of the vehicles, but President Jagdeo had already voiced criticisms of the action.
To do otherwise later would have been hypocritical, and he acted according to his conviction. But this, too, was something that his ex-wife used to level blame at him and the Government. The fact is that the Head of State is keen to avoid charges of discrimination; and while people seek to accuse him of such behaviour, the records would show that all his actions have been above board and in keeping with the rule of law.
Allegations of the Ministry of Health refusing to cooperate with Kids First Fund are nothing but the charges of an angry woman seeking to win sympathy. The Minister of Health can defend himself.
What is noteworthy is that all these charges and allegations surfaced only when the woman was asked to vacate State House. It is passing strange that, prior to this, she was silent and content to behave in her own right; and President Jagdeo, keen to avoid what actually happened in the end, did nothing, although he was within his rights to act.
There are some who are rational enough to know that allegations are what they are, and these people have held their peace. The critics, however, some of them of questionable character, have had their say.
They are rushing to blame the Government, but wiser counsel will prevail.

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