The head of government always says that he will lead on behalf of all the people. That should mean that everyone would have equal access to everything that the government controls.
But the society is seeing that this is not really the case. In fact, one is led to believe that incompetent or people who were less than competent actually occupied positions of leadership in the various branches of the society.
One would arrive at this conclusion when one looks at the people who are being replaced in the various government and state agencies. One can ask about the reason for the replacements but rest assured, one would never get an accurate answer.
Vincent Adams, perhaps the most qualified of the people to head the Environmental Protection Agency, was simply swept aside. There was a brief article that suggested that Adams’s affiliation to the Alliance For Change may have had something with the government removing him.
This has been a common feature for the most part. Dr. Richard Van West Charles headed the Guyana Water Inc. He conducted a massive potable water programme in the Rupununi and in other parts of the country. Places that never had potable water were now enjoying water flowing through their taps.
Yet Dr. Van West Charles was removed as soon as the government changed. He still had another year on his contract but he was removed.
One can only imagine that the society has come to accept such removals on the ground of politics. It seems that even the reporters believe that such removals are the norm.
Perhaps at one of the press conferences someone may make bold to ask questions about the removals. No one can say with conviction that the replacement is better than the person who was in place.
It may be a case of paying someone for political support during the March 2 elections.
The Guyana Sugar Corporation has a new Chief Executive Officer. People may remember that after the elections this individual was part of a team granted a contract to investigate some happening involving the operations of the Coalition administration.
The PPP said that the investigation was done pro bono; so the Guysuco job has to be the payoff.
This individual a few years back proclaimed support for the AFC. He got no big position back in 2015 so he shifted his loyalty once more.
The Deputy Chief Medical Officer remains the deputy. There has been no promotion for Dr. Karen Boyle. The government appointed another supporter to the top position, leaving Dr. Boyle where she has been for a while.
Karen Boyle’s physical appearance may have conveyed the impression that she is not a supporter of the People’s Progressive Party. The result is that she is not good enough to be the bride.
There have been adjustments in some other areas. Suddenly Guyana is seeing the largest number of advisers. Some ministries now have two. These advisers supersede the professionals who have been working there.
The minister must now listen to his advisers. More dismissals could follow on the grounds of redundancy.
There are advisers everywhere. Robeson Benn has an adviser at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Dr. Frank Anthony has two at the Ministry of Health—but since their appointment COVID-19 deaths have gone through the roof—and even Priya Manickchand has an adviser at the Education Ministry.
And while all this shuffling and replacing is going on, the political campaign must go on. Opponents must be prepared to be attacked with fabrications.
David Granger has been accused of buying a Sports Utility Vehicle for $35 million. The records show otherwise but the government is not changing that tune.
Even Charles Ramson whose intelligence is questionable—he wanted to be the presidential candidate; then he wanted to be an oil expert after he was so dubbed by Kaieteur News; then he could not pronounce battalion—takes to social media that his party has found the vehicle but can’t find Granger.
Granger is very much a public figure. Just Monday he was officiating at a public function at Agricola, East Bank Demerara.
Perhaps those incidents are blips in Irfaan Ali’s pledge to lead on behalf of everyone. Then something happens. He says that he will not deal with the political opposition until it stops saying that his government is illegal.
One cannot rule on behalf of an individual or group of people with whom one has no discussion.
But what is all this talk about not holding discussions until one side stops saying that the government is illegal. Five years ago the PPP was saying that the Coalition was illegal. Do suh nah like suh.
Joseph Heller wrote a classic, Catch 22. This is recommended reading if one is to understand the present government.
