Greenidge still shows his old political hue

Dec 21, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am responding to “Carrington says Greenidge’s future depends on resources” (Kaieteur News, December 18).
It is my recollection that just after the December 1985 election rigging, when Desmond Hoyte awarded himself the largest electoral majority in Guyana; it was Finance Minister Carl Greenidge who in 1986 announced the ban on importation of split peas. Earlier, he was part of the government under Burnham that banned flour, potatoes, raisins, etc. When queried about the suffering his outlawing the consumption of split peas would cause on the population, he responded that, “only one segment of the population would be affected”, as published in the Guyana Chronicle and reported internationally.
Almost everyone in Guyana, regardless of ethnicity, use split peas as a staple, but Greenidge’s comment exposes his line of thinking.
A few years later, his master, Desmond Hoyte listened to his advisors and nullified all the laws criminalizing the use of those banned items.
I wish to point out that when democracy was restored in October 1992, the Cheddi Jagan government did not withdraw Greenidge’s name for contention of the post of Deputy Secretary General of ACP as it could have done. In fact, Jagan’s government promoted and advocated for Greenidge.
And after selection, the government did not oppose the appointment of Greenidge to the post as it could have done. Some 18 years later, Greenidge has not changed and still shows his old political hue.
The question is, would he ban split peas and flour if he should be elected as President as the PNCR candidate?
Dave Pandey

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