Kamla, Kamla, Kamla – Category 5 fury, force

Mar 05, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

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Hard Truths by GHK Lall

(Kaieteur News) – Whatever is thought of Trinidad and Tobago’s (TT) Prime Minister, Excellency Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her positions, she must be recognized for having a go at getting them before everyone.  Whatever is said about her, she has her say in her own way, with an invisible but audible gauntlet thrown down.  Deal with it.  Think whatever, react however, but deal with it.

The Venezuelan threat to TT and Guyana is the big IT, in this instance.  The silence of CARICOM is another IT, no smaller, that PM Persad-Bissessar vented her spleen at higher, more intense pitches recently. The silence of regional leaders, the silence of CARICOM, attracted the scorching rage of the PM.  I don’t agree with her.  But I doff my toupee at anyone who speaks their mind so forthrightly.  Personally, I embrace a simple standard.  Look any man in the eye and tell him he’s a damn fool.  When the circumstances demand.  It can be a president who is full of sewage; or a patriot who sells his soul for a bowl of dog chow.

In PM Persad-Bissessar’s thinking, TT needs a big brother with a big stick.  And a big pair of jaws.  There’s none that can compare to the United States for that Bad Boy, Rude Boy, role.  It requires the bigger northern bully to strike some sense into the head of the bullies south of the Rio Grande and all the way to Caracas.  The price of the protection that Excellency Persad-Bissessar buys is steep.

The surrender of national sovereignty and leadership dignity is up there.  Apparently, TT prefers a dictator with a harsh New York accent than one with difficult Latin rhythms.  The latter wants some land and gold, liquid or otherwise; the former will take all that is on hand.  It is surprising-indeed, appalling-that after the terrible agonies and poignant memories of slavery and indentureship, that someone of the political pedigree (and biology) of PM Persad-Bissessar would want more.  And denounce those who take the opposite approach.

Why be so shortsighted, so unwise, as to neutralize one threat by embracing another that is disguised as a friend in time of need and distress?  I urge returning to the fields of Troy, and reexamining that horse that was left behind so invitingly.  Think twice, take great care, with those who come as rescuers, bringing gifts.  I bow in recognition of PM Kamla’s fierce drive to protect her own.  She does so to the detriment of the bigger whole.  There’s a parallel: the maharajahs who cut their own arrangements with British viceroys, so that their prosperity and untouchability remained secure.  Thus, a whole subcontinent suffered and slaved under an oppressive yoke.

I like America, prioritize America, but with this built-in emergency brake: the only friend that America has is itself.  The only friendship and interests that are prized and trusted are those of itself.  The PM buys an ally to buy time.  But at no time is Venezuela packing its bags and pulling up stakes, then moving out.  Condemnation and confrontation through a proxy have their uses.  The shelf life of that triplet is temporary.  Caracas and some caudillo or the other are permanent.  I respectfully place those wreaths at PM Persad-Bissessar’s feet.

I note that the TT PM is doing the shovel and wheelbarrow work re Venezuelan threats.  Who is she a proxy for: TT interests or a GT-TT partnership?  And all under the special godfather benevolence of the US.  Note how Guyana is less hostile, newly helpful to TT.  Petrotrin.  Financing.  Shared visions, shared people.  I note, too, that Guyana’s usually, abnormally, garrulous Pres. Ali has tried to be a man for all seasons, situations.  Not one bad word against CARICOM.  Not a dirty word against Venezuela.  There’s Senora Kamla to rev those engines, do those nasty jobs.  Pres. Ali gets to wear the white hat.  USA today.  USA forever.  Soon he will fancy himself as Alan Ladd in the role of Shane; or General Andy Jackson chasing out the riffraff.  Keep a close watch on the strengthening alliance between TT and GT.  The Dutch will come around soon.

Last, CARICOM will manage somehow; however haltingly, feebly.  But this thought, this picture emerges: PM Persad-Bissessar and Pres. Ali around the same table with other CARICOM heads. Icebreaker needed.  Peacemaker required.  Seamstress needed to patch things back into one piece.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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• CARICOM, GHK Lall, Kamla Persad -Bissessar, Venezuela-TT

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