A tale of two presidential truth tellers

Feb 20, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

As I observe Guyana’s two leaders in action, I am reminded of that standard stationhouse practice. It is of the “good cop-bad cop” combination. One is extremely well versed in the role of bad cop, while the other is being groomed every step along the way, in an extended apprenticeship, on how to trick citizens and make them let down their guard. Handlers hold him closer than a baby, with none holding tighter than the main man.
The President struggles at being the good cop; he gets better: all smiles and good cheer, a regular jolly Santa Claus, with honey dripping, and bobbing around testing developments. He isn’t named Ali for nothing. He sweetens like a honeybee, and stings with the many scorpion jabs that he gets away with, since few take him seriously. Enter the other half of this well-studied and well-rehearsed leadership combo, the one who pretends to bow to constitutional dictates, by assuming sprawling viceroyship. Thus, the so-called bad cop gets to be the Field Marshall overall portfolios. He likes being the heavy, and if having to deal with vice (not the title, but the real thing) then that is a part of the territory.
Editor, in this, I detect the Christian Dior efforts of PPP groomers to transform the president into Guyana’s guy next door, as in Jimmy Stewart; while the other fellow thrives on being a snarling, spitting, and menacing Jimmy Cagney. Now if this is too far back for the younger folks, I offer the president, who fancies himself as a smooth Denzel Washington, and the next patriot who holds himself out to be the Guyanese reincarnation of the Boy from the Hood. If Afro-Guyanese are offended, I hasten to assure them: no offense meant. I must try harder to please everybody. To go cultural and completely, both think of themselves as Amitabh, while Amjad Khan fits the bill better for the swaggering badman.
Editor, in this eclectic local political brew are two men, national leaders, who hide in plain sight. They have a good game plan that both do tap dances around to avoid stepping on the other’s toes; they lull the gullible and innocent to trust them. I don’t for a moment. One has nothing to offer on unity and transparency and accountability; while the other struggles manfully to speak to truth without going near to it; or exposing himself to what the whole truth obliges to deliver. This is the proxy delivered on all matters related to oil. Ironically, both presidents boast of extravagant borrowings and all the good to come for citizens. But on oil, both are the sum of mum and dumb; not one convincing crumb. Both leave out mentioning that borrowings are only made available by international financial institutions, because oil is solid, unbeatable tier-1 collateral. What both of these presidential cops engage in is the delivery of the careful ballet that doesn’t step on each other’s toes, but crushes the naïve. What they embody, I dismiss and denounce. Because what they share is tainted and planted, and fails the smell test. Minorities captives are very familiar with that song and dance that sends them to jail (or Death Row), and Guyana is nothing else if not a land of minorities and the mentally imprisoned. Look at us. A minority of deep thinkers. A minority in the ranks of the truly honourable. And a minority of people left that still possess a conscience.
When these two remarkable imitations of national leadership took the reins, they forgot to read Guyanese their rights, to enlighten them as to where they stand. Now they struggle to make things stick in the court of honest public opinion with their governance dodges and verbal gymnastics. In so doing, the two of them remind me of those loaded American police officers, who always end up claiming fearing for their lives and self-defence, when somebody turns up dead. This is how all Guyanese, including PPP supporters, are being lullabied to rest. I tender that it could be eternal rest with that oil, that bulk borrowing and spending. Only a few dare to shout: not so fast! What the hell is going on? More pointedly, what is the meaning of that, and where is that expected to lead? Remember this: the good presidential cop is not anybody’s friend; while the other one is everybody’s enemy and worst nightmare come to pass.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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