From the Diaspora... Robbing Tourists in Guyana; Jagdeo Trial Balloon and Idiotic Journalists

From the Diaspora… Robbing Tourists in Guyana; Jagdeo Trial Balloon and Idiotic Journalists

Apr 06, 2014 News

By Ralph Seeram

I saw the photograph and I immediately felt sick to my stomach. I got very angry at whoever the moron was that published and broadcast that revolting picture of the teenager hanging from a sheet in his house. These fools have no sense of decency or respect.
Here is a child that took his own life, a family in shock and deep mourning, grieving, and to add to their misery, these incompetents that pass for journalists in Guyana publish the picture of their son hanging for the world to see, Internet and all.
Did they even ask the parents’ permission to do this? Did they consider what effect it would have on this poor family in their time of distress? I would like to know if this was their son, would they be happy to see it splashed over the media. To be honest it is sickening to see what passes for journalism today in Guyana.
Some years ago when the “Fineman” gang went on its murder rampage, this newspaper carried a picture of a murdered child with his intestines protruding. I immediately picked up the phone here in Florida and called the editor (who is also a friend of mine) and cussed him out in no uncertain terms. When it comes to children, there is a line you do not cross.
There is always an element of self-censorship in the interest of the public. Sometimes you have to put the public interest, in this case the family interest, before sensationalism, then again I doubt if those fools for editors would know what I am talking about.
POWER POSITION AND PRIVILIGE
Some months in the run-up to the 2011 Elections, I was speaking to an attorney friend of mine in Guyana with close PPP ties about the election. I told him that we will see a change under a Donald Ramotar Presidency. He told me don’t expect any changes, which prompted me to ask him why.
He told me that Bharrat Jagdeo has already dismantled the PPP and has “his people in place” and that they are also placed strategically in Government. Ramotar, he said, would have no control. I doubted at the time, but after a year of the Ramotar Presidency where the status quo remained I remember his prophetic words.
So this last week we had this little controversy on who made the poll showing Jagdeo will win Parliament back for the PPP. Does anybody seriously believe that was an Opposition poll? Come on really? That was a trial balloon by the Jagdeo camp to test the waters, pure and simple.
Ralph Ramkarran in his hard hitting conversation this week, exposed what some had already suspected, but coming from Ralph Ramkarran, adds credibility. Why? Because Ramkarran is not only respected, but has credibility.
Do you notice that the PPP government ministers stay clear of attacking Ralph Ramkarran directly? They let their lackeys try to do the dirty work. But back to Jagdeo; power is like sex, you get a taste and you want more, nobody likes to give up power, position and privilege, that’s why some Ministers have been there for 20 years.
I am sure Jagdeo misses those three P’s. Here is the bad news for Jagdeo’s supporters and Jagdeo; if you think he can win back Parliament for the PPP you are in la la land. Keep dreaming. Bharrat Jagdeo caused the PPP to lose the last elections, and he will most certainly cause them to lose the Presidency at a future election, not only if he runs for the Presidency, but even if he campaigns for the PPP.
The man is a disgrace to Cheddi Jagan and what the PPP stood for. Anybody remembers the last disgraceful act he did before demitting office? Remember those awards of Radio, Television and cable licenses to friends and cronies? So why has he some support in and out of the PPP? Ramkarran sums it up.
“The second limb of the plan was to break down any independent thinking and resistance to himself from the leadership of the PPP. Party stalwarts were retired, removed or sidelined. Independent voices were driven out, stilled or subverted. The newcomers, enticed with career opportunities and devoid of ideological commitment or political history, easily fell in line and learnt that exaggerated and sycophantic displays of loyalty offered security of tenure and protection, albeit limited, from the great man’s rages”.
Read the full article on conversationtree.gy. It’s a powerful article if not the most frank and brutal assessment of Bharrat Jagdeo. I wrote years ago that the reason Ralph Ramkarran was sidelined in the PPP was the fear that had he become President, the “gravy train” (bribes, kickbacks etc) would end.
Speaking about PPP, its Tourism Minister has been mouthing off about how great tourism is doing and plans to expand the tourist industry including a US$4M Hospitality Institute. This is another PPP buffoon spewing buffoonery when it comes to tourism. Hint – you can’t build a successful tourist industry, when you have a prosperous crime industry, especially one that preys on tourists and returning Guyanese.
You can’t build a successful tourist industry when you have your Customs and Immigration officers passing on arriving passengers’ information to criminals, who rob them as soon as they arrive at their destination.
I have said in the column before to those in the Diaspora, do not give your destination on the declaration form, and give a hotel name. Within the last week a friend of mine was held up at gunpoint and robbed as he arrived at his home from the airport. The bandits were waiting.
Now this is a prominent businessman from Orlando, Florida. His restaurant, “Singh’s Roti Shop”, is very popular with Guyanese and the wider Caribbean Diaspora. The word got around very rapidly in the Guyanese Diaspora here in Florida thanks to social media. Some have already killed the idea of going to Guyana after hearing what happened to this popular businessman.
Florida depends on tourism; some 18 million visitors a year. Yes there are one or two instances or robbery in the street, but rare. Criminals stay away from tourists; they know they will feel the full wrath of law enforcement, should they attack a tourist. And Customs and Immigration Officers certainly do not pass on passenger information to criminals.
Irfaan Ali gave statistics of the number of tourists visiting Guyana. Turns out the majority are Guyanese returning for a visit to their homeland. I hardly think Guyanese consider themselves tourists when they visit relatives or friends. I don’t consider myself a tourist when I visit Guyana. Does anyone in the Diaspora agree with me?
Now if Guyana sees droves of Europeans, Canadians, Americans, Latin Americans and Caribbean people in a steady flow to Guyana, well then you can claim you have a tourist industry.
Just don’t classify me as a tourist when I return to the land where I was born.
Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: [email protected]