Caught between a rock and a hard place

Dec 21, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
Whether Minister Broomes, who stopped the Public Service Commission from performing or Harmon who stopped the Police Service Commission from promoting senior cops, or the officers of MMA who it was firstly presumed, revoked the leases of three farmers in Berbice; in court, all three matters had a common result- the CJ cited the executive (president) for constitutional violations. I would not want to believe that the president allowed himself to be used as a “scapegoat” by two of his ministers and the MMA authority. His pen was involved.
Whether he took advice from his advisors or not, it was his actions that the Acting CJ in her judgement found contrary to the constitution. One thing is certain. For these violations, the president (not his advisors) continues to appear clumsier by the day in the eyes of the people.
We may never know where or from whom the inspiration to stash the US$18 million bonus came. So far, the president said he did it and Greenidge sought to be complimented for advising him. In the interest of transparency, Exxon, having its unofficial PRO, Greenidge lamenting about KN publishing its modus operandi here, should make public the documentation of the signing bonus.
Confirmation of name or names representing Guyana and the amount would assist to give some closure to this debacle and restore Exxon’s credibility here. (Scenario 1) If the president did it like he said, for the umpteenth time, he may find his decision being deliberated upon for contravention of the constitution–this time Article 261.
(Scenario 2) If he were unaware of what transpired and has volunteered to take the flak for others because he is the one with the immunity–well so be it. Even if (scenario 2) is applicable, the president is not at liberty to do the patriotically correct by rolling some heads, which would have won him the “Oscar” of the century in the hearts of the Guyanese people.
Either way the president has to take the flak. Coalitions are fragile, rolling a single head from APNU or AFC could set the entire power keg exploding—-it is a typical rock and a hard place scenario for the president.
While violations of the constitution are serious matters, meddling in money matters puts him in unfamiliar territory- the realm of corruption. One wonders! Has the president given any thought to the kind of legacy he wants to leave as the President of Guyana? Or is he too preoccupied with overcoming the daily hurdles as they come?
Or is he being yanked, like a puppet on a string by the whims and fancy of his advisors? Why did he revoke the leases of three poor farmers? Was this some kind of a personal vendetta or vendetta for someone else? His actions even before “signing bonus,” inspire more questions than answers.
Back to the signing bonus! Let’s look at the President’s excuse. The President said,”Once the money is in an escrow account, it means it cannot be used for purposes for which it is not intended.”I would want to think that those were the exact words said to him by his advisors or colleagues as they prepared him to take the flak.
“I figure the President did not check the meaning of escrow neither did he read the letter to Gobind Ganga. Had he done so, he would have known that the Government and the Ministry of Finance could not be considered as two different parties.
Trotman had already taken Exxon out of the picture by saying that Exxon did not know that they had planned to use the bonus to pay lawyers. Moreover, ‘Escrows’ are expected to lie dormant-not “invested in interest bearing securities” as stated in the letter.
What if the US$18 million were invested and suddenly his so called “security concern” arise. How would he have gotten the money? In short Granger’s escrow defence had the countenance of a poorly built, ludicrously looking “scarecrow.”
The President’s ostensibly blind trust of his advisors and colleagues or his unwavering sacrifice to keep the Coalition alive is rapidly eroding his credibility as a leader.
Rudolph Singh

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