Little guys making it big

Jun 05, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Amidst unending war of words everywhere and uninterrupted protests on everything that blinks, I find it inspiring that some little people are making it big. My problem with the saga of the little fellows rising up is that we need more of these success – actual and pending – stories. And, second, we need them in this gravely torn Guyana.
The first little guy rising was that of the company and people from nowhere, Engine 1, gaining first two, and now a third, seat on mighty Exxon’s board. The oil behemoth fought and fought, on occasion, with what I consider not so free and fair. But through sheer grittiness, today there are three new directors on Exxon’s board, and CEO Darren Woods and his Praetorian Guard that still dominate company’s board are wondering, if not already strategising, on how to deal with this upstart non-entity of a hedge fund that challenges it in its own den. This will be fun, but also of substance, because Exxon’s chiefs are put on notice that it is no longer business as usual with climate change. No more of the slick PR stuff, while the mushroom clouds imperil surrounding environment and upper atmosphere. There are messages there for Guyanese.
Then, along came a name, from where I don’t know, that is again of the maverick David toppling the Harvard-pedigreed Goliath. The first things I asked myself were who Israel’s Naftali Benjamin is and what is with this Yámina Party? Now I am learning a little more of him in the pressure cooker that is Israeli politics. The guy and group are/were so obscure as not to merit a moment. But here they are today about to upend Netanyahu, who always gives the impression of Gibraltar-like political impregnability. Again, the message for Guyanese is the same: it can be done. Capsizing the buffoons and brigands (PPP, PNC) that we have parading around here like believed invulnerable Achilles. Yeah, but easier said than done, and this needs people. Where are they? Clean people. Unselfish citizens. Honourable men and women with a different vision for this country, other than racial division (elections), individual self-help (public service plums), and speeches that do not match practices (two-faced, twin-tongued double-crossers for leaders).
The third small man who is readying to prove he is a real man (sounds like Burnham, lol), is none other than former police officer Eric Adams, who is in a tight race for Mayor of New York City. I think he can triumph, and my vote and wager are on him. He knows the communities, and cares for the people. After all, he is one of them, who has been there and done that. By that, I mean other than the ‘teefing’ and deceiving that are the face paint of Guyana government leaders, and an opposition that has no face to show. As I look at these three instances, it presents possibilities on what Guyanese can do to upend the monsters in the midst. Remember: principled people needed.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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