Govt’s ‘political gangsterism’ preventing Guyanese from speaking out- Glenn Lall

May 12, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News publisher and local activist, Glenn Lall, believes many distinguished Guyanese and businesses are fully aware of the ongoing economic and social injustices in the country, but are afraid to speak out for fear of victimisation.

A local businessman himself, Lall said Friday, that the government has been practicing ‘political gangsterism’ against persons who condemn its actions in office.

“They all see it, every single one of them. They read the headlines. They know the numbers. They know exactly who is walking away with riches or wealth.  But they stay silent.  Not because they don’t care, but because they are afraid. Afraid of what happens when you speak the truth in a country that makes you the enemy of those in power.”

According to Lall, former President and now Vice President, Bharat Jagdeo, has over the years cultivated a “dangerous, wicked, vindictive and political culture throughout his presidency, where, if anyone dares speak out, they would be heavily persecuted.

“They won’t challenge the facts. They won’t debate your points.  Instead, they will try to destroy you and everyone around. They will try to destroy your will through intimidation. They will try to destroy your name and reputation though slanders. They will try to destroy your right to earn a living by refusing or withholding a job or contract. when those fail, they will try to destroy you!” he stated.

The Kaieteur News publisher said the government will even use state agencies like the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to audit persons’ business, target their employees, threaten their license, reduce and remove state ads from a media house, and engage in smear campaigns. He said this is the kind of ‘political gangsterism’ they unleash against persons for standing up and speaking the truth.

He said while many business persons are educated, successful, and well-informed, they choose to remain silent. According to him, there are others who remain silent out of natural fear, while others remain quiet over fear of having their family members, who they depend on for their daily survival, lose their government jobs.

“So, they all choose survival over sacrifice.  And while I can understand their fear, I cannot join them. Because the cost of silence in Guyana today with this wealth is too much,” Lall stated.

Lall’s comments were in response to a question by a citizen, who asked why local businessmen are not condemning the government’s squandering of the country’s oil wealth, while citizens remain poor.

Reference was made to a Canadian company’s application for some 4.3 million ounces of gold, where, at today’s price is worth some US $12 billion. Lall  said just like the oil, there is complete silence from politicians on how Guyanese will benefit.

“No press conferences. No explanation. No consultation. The sellout is never announced. It always happens quietly—behind closed doors, with handshakes, contracts, and silence.

And unless the few like myself blow the whistle, unless we shout from the rooftop, we all will wake up one day to find that our country was once rich, but our people are poor.  We were blessed—but we are left begging. We were the owners—but we were treated like the farm workers in our own land with our own wealth. We own over US $50 billion in estimated gold reserves so far, and Guyanese can’t get 50 seconds, or 50 words out of Ali or Jagdeo”.

Last week, Canadian mining firm G Mining Ventures Corp. (GMIN) has officially started the process to secure a mining licence for its Oko West gold project in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), a development expected to unlock 4.3 million ounces of gold reserves.

The move was disclosed in the company’s recently published feasibility study results, which show that the project is poised to deliver strong financial returns, thanks to low production costs. The Oko West project, fully owned by GMIN, is positioned to become the next major phase of growth for the company.

Alongside the mining licence application, GMIN has also begun seeking other critical permits needed to bring the project to full-scale operation. These include approvals for port operations, fuel use and storage, as well as the installation of transmission and telecommunications towers.

“So Ask yourself people, what untapped potential you hearing about from Jagdeo? From Ali? From Norton? From Nigel? What potential them boasting about for us, the true owners of all that pure gold and diamond. because while these foreign investors flying into Guyana in private jets, getting red carpet treatment and sipping wine at the Marriott, them companies walking out with tones of gold and crates of diamonds”

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