Jagdeo on breaches Part 2

Sep 13, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

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Hard truths…

(Kaieteur News) – Never knew Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo to be sneaky.  Sloppy, hostility personified and sleeker than mercury, he can be.

But not sneaky, not he.  Hence, I weigh why he waited until Pres. Ali’s back was turned to show his face at the Arthur Chung Convention Center and beat the daylights out of ministers, permanent secretaries, and regional heads.  It was off with his gloves, and off with the heads of those ministers and public servants, who don’t do right by procurement laws and regulations.  What follows does no favors to Dr. Jagdeo and the PPP Govt.

Regarding Dr. Jagdeo being sneaky in waiting for Dr. Ali to sail to Middle Eastern enchantments and intrigues before opening his mouth, I avoid people’s domestic business.  It’s their affair.  Nonetheless, this I say: Regional Executives were handpicked by Pres. Ali.  Ministers were selected by Pres. Ali.  All report to Pres. Ali.  On paper at least.  So, also the Permanent Secretaries who owe their paycheck and bureaucratic life to Pres. Ali.  The man is a doctor, remember.  So, what crafty, clandestine operation was Dr. Jagdeo conducting when Mr. Ali is away?  Who’s the real boss?

Further, Jagdeo shared the unbelievable: careful with procurement breaches.  Wouldn’t be condoned; there’ll be consequences.  Say that again, please.  When Stabroek News covered PPP Govt. corruptions, the PPP hammered SN’s head, and it is now dead.  But there was Jagdeo warning about breaches and bristling with menace about penalties.  When Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, and this Lall (and others) pounded the corruption-in-procurement culture, Dr. Jagdeo reserved entire Thursday afternoons to rail and rant, to defend and minimize (poohpooh), the corruption problem.  So, what was he doing before those ministers and senior government (PPP) officials?  I say it is tacitly admitting that SN, KN, and the Lalls were right; while he was playing his usual deflecting, skirting around, and minimising games.  Jagdeo should show the Samurai spirit.  Be man enough to swallow all that vitriol and venom that he spat so profusely during his pre-sundown meltdown Thursdays.  Excellency Ali had his pre-sunup beatdown of contractors and others during an Xmas season.  Jagdeo did better: a pre-sundown blast at people not answerable to him.

What do I think of all this?  The PPP Govt. is falling apart.  The PPP leadership is fragmenting, losing its grip, acknowledging corruption realities.  Its people are serial self-helpers.  The PPP network of problem children are serious concerns at the highest levels of the party.  Relative to the PPP Govt’s position on corruption, I can’t say much, because the president hasn’t said anything.  But the shadow of corruption-in-procurement (billions) is what sent Vice President Jagdeo ballistic.  He can’t take it anymore.  Tells Guyanese how monstrous the corruption beast is.  When a man like Jagdeo has to sound off on breaches and consequences, it’s over.  Forget about kettle and fish.  The dam collapsed.  I am glad he has found religion, seen the light, is frank with the problem.

Corruption and a cavalier attitude led to the MV Barima going down, and 100 poor Guyanese dead, as if the PPP had ordered it.  The death toll, the dollar toll, the public relations toll, have all combined to become the group’s biggest nightmare.  No CoI, no big talk, no sweet talk, from anyone makes one difference, one heart changed, one thought withdrawn.  It’s as if the PPP killed those 100-plus people.

Cost-of-living pauperizing Guyanese, and Jagdeo and Ali once denounced anyone who said so.  Now the president telling Guyanese their eating habits contributed to cost-of-living killing them.  Blackouts torment Guyanese, and the GPL says Guyanese self-destructing.  Overuse of fans, lights, and ACs.  Corruption throughout Guyana brought the PPP to this mentality of pin-the-tail-of-the-donkey on the people.  Government takes no responsibility.  Next, the PPP will blame Exxon for finding oil, and the Americans for helping it win elections.  Even the no confidence man, the High Commissioner, may not be spared.

I see a government with its hair and underwear on fire.  There was Jagdeo at the Convention Center trying to put out fires, and cremating himself.  Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.  Try my parable: whom the gods wish to taunt, they torture, then tear apart.  Breaches have consequences was the first thunderbolt.

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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• Arthur Chung Convention Center, Bharrat Jagdeo, GHK Lall

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