Tag Archives: opinion

Guyana Elections 2020: the perfect vision of the usual right down the middle – By GHK Lall

January 7, 2020 – 12:23 am

Posted by: Denis Chabrol in Demerara Waves  – January 6, 2020

 — by GHK Lall

On occasion, I am prompted to believe that I am the wisest one around here, and since that is far from accurate, I will settle for the sanest. For in the past few days of this New Year, this pivotal year of 2020, there came confirmation of things that needed no confirmation. None whatsoever, because as is so obvious, they are characterized by so much of what is of mere commonsense.

First, there was the coalition leadership entourage in full regalia at their kickoff proceedings. It was rousing, electrifying, and there was one more thing: there was a crowd of people: raucous, excited supporters, thousands of them, from what I read and heard. Did anybody, any Guyanese, require that kind of confirmation? I certainly didn’t, which is why I said from the get-go that this political contest has only one manifestation.          Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Commentary, Government, Guyana, Guyana elections, Personalities, Politics | Also tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Guyana Politics: PPP’s Irfaan Ali says “I am not a puppet.” Really? Sez who? – By GHK Lall

January 5, 2020 – 12:17 am

Posted by:  Demerara Waves – December 31, 2019

  — by GHK Lall

I refer to the headline article titled, “Ali maintains he’s no Jagdeo puppet” (SN December 31) See article below. I thought for a moment that Stabroek News mixed up its calendar in mistaking Old Year’s Day for All Fools’ Day. Oh well, here I go.

Everybody is due the benefit of the doubt. This is even when they themselves have mountains to scale in the credibility department. And such is the case with the opposition’s presidential candidate.

This should have been a crowning moment for him. It isn’t. This should have been an hour when well-wishing competitors, from within his own fold, put aside envy and malice, rise to the occasion, and surround him with their enthusiastic, at the very least, spirited energies. Rather frowningly and regrettably, little of that is present. The man is on his own only muddles things when he opens his mouth to make what he believes are profound statements. The trouble is that none are fooled (including the party’s own) and, thus, the only success registered is that he makes a bigger object of derision of himself. Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Government, Guyana, Guyana elections, Personalities | Also tagged , , | Comments (2)

Guyana Politics: A relatively dignified December – mainly politically speaking – By GHK Lall

December 22, 2019 – 12:11 am

 December 21, 2019 – Demerara Waves – By GHK Lall

By Guyanese standards, it has been a relatively dignified December. In fact, it has been the most placid month of this stormy year. Still, I had to wait for the safety of over two thirds of the month to pass, before I am able to say that a strange quiet took hold, mostly on the political front.

I begin with that coal-pot of the raging constitutional entity called GECOM, which itself sounded reasonably becalmed. The chair herself led by example; she is not seen, only heard, like some Greek goddess of yore handing down the unique Guyanese electoral wisdoms from Olympus. I hope that things do not fly to her head, and the lady actually begins to believe (in true Guyanese fashion) that she actually is a goddess. But whenever she speaks, everybody straightens up and listens; this was what happened in December with polite listening across the political force field. The rowdy political pack named commissioners did comport themselves as adults in December, and everybody survived to tell the tale.          Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Commentary, Government, Guyana, Oil Exploration, Politics, Transportation | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

OPINION: Five years to real oil prosperity in Guyana could be an eternity – by GHK Lall

October 17, 2019 – 12:18 am

Posted by: Denis Chabrol in Demerara Waves  October 16, 2019

  by GHK Lall
Five years to 2025, according to the Hon. Minister of Finance. That is how long before the oil money would start coming in, the real meaningful money. The money that, if honestly and wisely (prudent is the word) used, could make a world of difference for Guyanese. Every single citizen. I can only agree with anyone, who harbors such a vision, and who then removes all obstacles that may prevent that from being reality. Remember: every citizen. Some cautions first.

Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Economics/Finance, Government, Guyana, Oil Exploration, Personalities, Politics, Technology | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (1)

OPINION: Elections now is a road to hell; still opportunity for reason to prevail – By GHK Lall

September 21, 2019 – 12:11 am
–By GHK Lall –  Demerara Waves – September 19, 2019

Elections now! It is clearly an insistence that promises to drag this society from the dark gutter to a deep grave. I believe that the hard, clashing visions and passions are so heated, with matters ever poised at a dangerous pitch, that the clamors are unwise. I hold this position, and it is mine only, regardless of the source of the calls for elections at all costs, and in the soonest time; whether such source is local or a broad-based and pivotal foreign one.

I submit that should there be movement on something resembling elections now, then Guyana would go from comedy to circus to crisis. In terms of the latter, it would be an existential one. What say any Constitution then? What would be the credibility and acceptability of any such elections from any loser? I inquire calmly and politely also: what would be the extent, reach, and effectiveness of any winner?          Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Government, Guyana, Guyana elections, Personalities, Politics, Racial Conflict | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

Guyana Politics: The “zone of convergence” must widen and encircle; must get real- By GHK Lall

August 12, 2019 – 12:23 am

Posted by: Demerara Waves in August 10, 2019 – By GHK Lall

It is encouraging to read that the President and Opposition Leader started meeting yesterday (Friday, Aug. 9, 2019) to discuss the way forward. It is the only option: meeting and exploring for finalizing; it is that and nothing else. Nothing else is there, other than the meaningless sounds and postures through public advertisements that do nothing for this country: sells nothing, buys nothing but trouble.

Each leader was accompanied by another from within his inner circle. The gathering must be narrowed from four to two soon. I have been and seen where all others had to leave the room and leave only two. That is how the real, hard, trailblazing business is pounded and grounded into grains, and then sifted meticulously. Both sides know that their positions are palpable, yet invisible to each other, unimaginable to the other, even in the contemplation.    Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Government, Guyana, Guyana elections | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Guyana Politics: There must be softening across the political battlefield – by GHK Lall

August 8, 2019 – 12:18 am

Demerara Waves – in August 6, 2019 –  by GHK Lall

Compliments of a Demerara Waves article (July 31) it was reported that coalition commissioners appear “softer on house-to-house-registration.” Softer is not a sign of weakness; it is of common sense wisdom. The same must come from across the floor, since none holds any clear upper hand, nor would be able to claim any powerful position beyond an election.

I submit that any immovable position with reference to registration is pointless, given two related developments made public by GECOM itself. First, the secretariat shared that it has committed more resources in what I would describe as a hard acceleration of the registration process; it is a positive. The second development was to announce that some 100,000 eligible citizens have been registered in the last two weeks. This is another positive, which tells me two things.        Continue reading →

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New PPP GECOM list: an Ocean’s Eleven of the mostly unfavorable – by GHK Lall

July 10, 2019 – 12:26 am

   by GHK Lall –  Demerara Waves – July 8, 2019

I was hoping for a serious list, not necessarily an entirely new list, but one that offered names holding out some hope that the electoral challenges at hand were viewed through a wider lens. I suppose that, now it is on the record, the best will have to be done with it. And if this is the best that came out of the recent government-opposition consultation, then pessimism has to rule. I share what I think of this list of names.  (See list at the end of this article).

There are couple of decent folks in the mix. Literally. From that eleven, there is only one or two of any authentic caliber; and in whom I would place some degree of trust. Trust is the key word demanded, and which has to emerge from what has to be the dirtiest, most thankless, most unforgiving job in the world.          Continue reading →

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My last word on the CCJ today: Guyanese leaders have failed us all – By GHK Lall

June 25, 2019 – 12:56 pm

My last word on the CCJ today: Guyanese leaders want adda people fuh duh de dutty wuk

Posted by: Denis Chabrol in Demerara Waves – June 24, 2019 – By GHK Lall

I am ashamed. I am not sure, nor do I care, how many Guyanese I speak for but I am insulted and embarrassed at some of what came through from the CCJ today. Any self-respecting Guyanese, and I am not certain as to how many are still around, should feel the same way. Did matters really have to come to this humiliating state?

From some of the quotes in the Demerara Waves’ coverage titled, “Caribbean Court gives Granger, Jagdeo more time to find consensus on elections date; GECOM says general elections not possible until after Christmas” (June 24), it is clear that Guyanese leaders, and by extension all of the Guyanese people, have been given a public dressing down. It is one that reeks of impatience, disappointment, condescension, and frustration.  Continue reading →

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Guyana: The current voters list is fundamentally flawed – by James McAllister

April 28, 2019 – 12:07 am

Op-Ed: The current voters list should be scrapped

April 25, 2019 – by James McAllister

It is a fact! The voters’ list in Guyana is bloated by at least 30%. The names of over 180,000 dead, missing or non-existent people are included on the voters’ roll.

Of this number, a minimum of 40,000 are the names of dead people. National Census figures, the House-to-House registration of 2008, and Guyana’s vital statistics published by the Bureau of Statistics are important tools for the attempt to unravel the mystery surrounding this voters’ list.

In 2008, GECOM’s House-to-House registration exercise documented a total of 430,000 persons. The 2012 Census recorded a population of 746,955 of which 61% or 455,640 were 18 years or older. Census figures from 1980, 1991, 2002 and 2012 were used as the data for a regression analysis to forecast the 2019 population as approximately 744,000. Assuming 39% of the estimated 2019 population is below 18, then approximately 453,840 are 18 years and over, and eligible to vote.        Continue reading →

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