Clico, Globe-Trust and realpolitik

Apr 23, 2009 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

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I have used the word, “realpolitik” more times than I can count since 1988 when I became a commentator. In political analysis, especially in assessing authoritarian Guyana, the word becomes useful to get across your point.
In fairness to John Public, I should define it. The term originated in 19th century German diplomacy. It was later applied to local politics. It simply means practical politics whereby the user is interested in upping the stakes to benefit himself/herself to the exclusion of anything that is moral, patriotic or fair. In other words, realpolitk is the use of politics for very narrow purposes.
Some refer to it as pragmatic politics, meaning it if works to benefit the ruler then the ruler will try it despite its sordid dimensions.
When President Jagdeo proclaimed that any investigation into CLICO’s collapse should be joined with an inquiry into Globe Trust, he was thinking along the lines of realpolitik. But it can backfire on the President. And it will. I’ll come to that opinion below.
It was not a good move by the President to query, “If CLICO then why not Globe-Trust?” It gave the impression that there is something to hide about CLICO. The interpretation was obvious – the PNC wouldn’t want to be exposed for Globe-Trust’s death so it would cool down on its CLICO criticism. Was this the way Mr. Jagdeo was thinking?
Even if you want to give him the benefit of the doubt, it is hard to because the two fiascoes cannot be compared.
The tale of Globe Trust, though sad, lacks the financial magnitude of CLICO.
The number of players and the volume of money are smaller in Globe Trust.  Secondly, the main actors in Globe Trust are confined to the opposition PNC, and it is doubtful that the PNC as a party made any formal decision about Globe Trust.
PNC leaders may have been involved but that doesn’t mean that you can find documents whereby the PNC as a party directed the affairs of Globe Trust and was directly responsible for its demise.
The situation is the opposite in CLICO. And given the self- destructive evidence that may be found, then I doubt that we will see a judicial commission on CLICO.
One central mistake in the President’s strategy was that his plan was designed to scare the PNC. But there are many stakeholders in the society who want to see an investigation into CLICO and couldn’t be bothered about what evidence will be found against some PNC leaders in the Globe Trust affair because those stakeholders are not PNC supporters.
In other words, if you are independent and have Guyana’s interest at heart, then why oppose the inclusion of Globe Trust in the official inquiry into CLICO. Here is where President Jagdeo may have placed himself in a labyrinth from which he may find it difficult to exit.
Stakeholders, including AFC, Guyana Action Party, WPA, GHRA, Red Thread, the private media, TUC, FITUG, Guyana Council of Churches, and the business community should accept the double inquiry.
Why should the Globe Trust part be the sticking point? There is more to learn about the abuse of power and how billions of dollars of hard-working pensioners were tossed up and down in the Clico story as if that money was a toy than what we will ever find in Globe Trust.
It was this writer on this page who broke the NBS purchase of Clico’s Berbice Bridge share two weeks (yes, not days, two weeks) before the scandal was made known. This aspect of the probe will be damaging to the corridors of power.
Powerful people told the officials at NBS (officials over whom they had control) to buy the shares so certain types of citizens could recoup their losses in Clico. Also, there is Mr. Duprey’s relationship with a certain powerful person in Guyana.
There is, too, the reason why Duprey invested in the bridge and why NIS put $6B into Duprey’s company.  It is a scandal second only to Water Rodney’s assassination in the history of independent Guyana.
Finally, the shape and members of any judicial inquiry into CLICO/Globe-Trust must not be the jurisdiction of President Jagdeo only.
Who chairs the commission and the other members will have a bearing on the outcome. These people must come from outside. Mr. Jagdeo cannot back off from financing their stay in Guyana.
Should he decline, the combined opposition and the private sector must immediately seek assistance from donor agencies and the Diaspora.
Clico could end up being exonerated and Globe-Trust could end up with all the blame depending on who comprises the membership of the official commission.
The whole thing could turn out to be a farce. My opinion is that there will not be an inquiry.

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