2015 was one of my favourite years

Jan 13, 2016 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

The first thought that flew through my mind as I began to write this column on 2015 was my libel trial involving Bharrat Jagdeo. I have absolutely no idea what has become of it. It started in 2011. We are now into 2016. It means that five years have passed. So much has happened since that trial began. Mr. Jagdeo is no longer president.
The PPP lost two successive General elections. The then Chief Justice (ag) that decided on the date of hearing, is gone from the bench. Not to mention that I am now five years older and so is the man who created an inflammatory controversy when he testified at the trial.
Dr. Roger Luncheon told the court that in his opinion no African Guyanese was at the time (2011) qualified to be an ambassador. The mesmerizing irony of the Jagdeo libel trial is that, it may have achieved a record in Guyana of being the libel that had the quickest hearing. Yet for such a supersonic start it is moving slower than a sloth.
When the case is completed (if ever), I will have moving things to say about our judicial system. But I think if anything about 2015 reminds me of the nature of my country it is the disappearance of the Jagdeo libel.
I like 2015 more than all the other years that went by except a few (of course the year I married, the year my child was born, the year I went into UG that took me out of poverty). I am speaking in deeply honest tones when I say that I chose 2015 over 1992, in that whereas I wanted to see a change of government in 1992, I was philosophically gratified to see the removal of the PPP in 2015 in ways that are far more emotional than when the PNC lost in 1992.
I have no regrets at my activism that played a part in the change in 1992. But living under Mr. Jagdeo’s reign taught many of us from the seventies who fought Burnham and those in the eighties who fought Desmond Hoyte, that life and people are too complex to understand; that for each day we live, the people who surround us we don’t know the monster that is lurking inside of them, willing to get out.
If I have to choose between Jagdeo and Burnham, I would be indignant to have that question asked of me. There can be no comparison. Mr. Jagdeo was a philistine, uncultured, crass, uncaring, unpatriotic leader, the likes of which this world should never see in the seat of power again. Mr. Granger and those in APNU and the AFC do not know the essence of the man; maybe Nagamootoo does, but I am not certain.
It would be a disaster never before seen in the English-speaking Caribbean if the Coalition throws it away and the PPP, with Mr. Jagdeo at the helm, returns to office.
2015 is one of my favourite years because the PPP lost power. Whatever the PPP became under Jagdeo, it was a sarcoma that sucked the essence of national integrity out of Guyana. There isn’t space to elaborate on the connection of what the PPP became under Jagdeo and the way Jagan shaped the PPP. But the connecting thread is there. Though I believe a theoretical case could be made out for Jagan’s determinism in what the PPP evolved into, I do think that Jagan would not have tolerated the depraved, extremist, corrupt use of power as practiced by Jagdeo.
It was really Jagdeo that fell from power in 2015 and not Ramotar. Only a pretender to intellectual thought would opine that Jagdeo went away in 2011. Mr. Ramotar was the shadow and Jagdeo was the king from 2011 onwards. When the PPP lost in 2015, Jagdeo fell, not Ramotar. Jagdeo was the PPP and the PPP was Jagdeo from 2001 onwards. In 2016, Jagdeo is the PPP and the PPP is Jagdeo. Whatever shape the PPP takes on from 2016, that architecture will be determined by Jagdeo.
Mr. Rohee can perform all types of arrogant acrobatics, but that latitude will only last as long as Mr. Jagdeo tolerates it. To compare the power base of Mr. Rohee and Mr. Jagdeo in the PPP, and among East Indians, is like comparing the running capacity of a baby and Usain Bolt.
Mr. Jagdeo and his Robb Street hegemonic machine of underlings and acolytes operated as if Guyana was their own. It was an era of insane power. In 2015 they fell. It was a magic moment for me. It will always be.

Latest News

2015 was one of my favourite years

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Imlach masterclass 126, Alimohamed 66-ball 77, give Harpy Eagles life...

Fraser rebounds well, as Arjoon keeps perfect...

Guyana to host historic 3×3 Quest Tournament

Quarter-Finals in Mashramani Street Football...

Vurlon Mills Football Academy launches KFC...

DEMLIFE Golf Tournament tees off today at LGC

Features/Columnists

Due diligence on investments must become a priority

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Awestruck and starstruck with a twist

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

2015 was one of my favourite years

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]