No US Accolades for Kwame

It would seem as if the US are not impressed with the “Kwame” tapegate scandal and subsequent non-action which seems to have died a natural death with Kwame back in his little seat of power at OP.

I guess there are no accolades for Kwame this year with reports emanating that the US Embassy has revoked his visa. Better go bathe in some salt water bhai, better luck next year.

This public display of disapproval from the Americans is sure to be seen as a slap in the face of the administration which has continued to defend Kwame. The Opposition and opposition media will have a field day.

Et tu US Embassy?

USE SECURITY FORCES BARBARISM TO WELD RACIAL UNITY

Earlier today, I read comments on Demerara Waves’ Facebook against the shock expressed by Gino Persaud, Attorney-at-Law on his blog. The comments were made by his colleague lawyer, Ronald Burch-Smith, who is a signatory to the very statement that was signed by the group of 25 lawyers, and my colleague-in-journalism, Julia Johnson.

This is my reaction as posted on Demerara Waves Facebook:

While one may want to construe these latest events as shocking; the last thing that Guyanese should ever want is the further entrenchment of racially-motivated division over this matter to the detriment of the larger cause.

If we erroneously accept that race is the reason for shock; then the Indians among us must be condemnend squarely for saying nothing about the barbaric killing of the gold-jeweler’s employee by Guyanese Coast Guardsmen.

In fact, this should be a turning-point in seizing the moment of broadening and strengthening the front on this issue and cease harping back on what should or should not have been.

Guyana is undergoing a cycle of events much like the 1970s under the PNC. The outrage against the Burnham/PNC era did not start overnight but with a cumulative effect of the labour-related and political atrocities that had been committed against the Blacks in the bauxite industry and public sector and the East Indians in the sugar belt. Then came the House of Israel thuggery (Fr Bernard Darke’s killing), restriction of newsprint, food-bans and restrictions, beating up of anti-government activists by official officially-blessed state actors, etc. that had welded the outrage across race and class lines, notwithstanding the pre and post independence periods of racial tension aming Blacks and Indians.

In essence, the outrage against the Burnham PNC by sections of the society did not begin overnight. People at the then time had to be motivated and educated over a period of time. The Guyanese collective across all lines had to feel the pain themselves and for each other before it became manifest that the then rulers of the day could no longer be tolerated. UNFORTUNATELY THAT CYCLE CONTINUES AND SO IS THE STRUGGLE FOR PEOPLES’ POWER! One day, born out of post-colonial experiences will yield a model of governance that is truly indigenous to Guyanese.

The last thing that anyone wants in the current scheme of things is the fracturing of a potential unity-platform on the basis of “we and dem”. Forward ever to racial and working class unity among all classes and strata.

The recent position taken by the group of lawyers must be used as the rocket rather than the anchor rather than a weapon against forging the so necessary unity between proletariat and petty bourgeoisie.

It is only through such unity, rather than harping on what should have been done or has not been done on the basis of race, that the apparent paralysis that has inflicted the political opposition, civil society, private sector and the religious community will be healed, galvanised and mobilized.

Ramotar Securing His Interests?

Another private citizen within the PPP has expressed a view on a controversial topic – whether President Jagdeo deserves a third term.

The General Secretary of the ruling PPP has formally stated that the goodly pandit’s stance on this matter is a personal one and not reflective of the party’s intention. This statement evoked memories of former President Janet Jagan’s stance on the pulling of state advertisements from the Stabroek News which were deemed to emanate from her as a private citizen.

It is widely rumoured that Ramotar is a leading contender for the  2010/2011 slot as the PPP’s presidential candidate. However, he  faces a more formidable and intellectually heavyweight challenger in the person of Mr. Ralph Ramkarran seen by many as a venerated Statesman and highly respected by the West.

Julius & Mother must facilitate investigation into Kwame Mc Coy’s alleged homosexual relations with boy

If Julius and his mother in the ‘Kwame-Julius’ imbroglio are genuinely interested in the elimination  of child abuse generally and the punishment of the alleged perpetrator, then they will have to do all that they can to facilitate a proper investigation by the police and child welfare authorities.

 

While Guyanese are often concerned about the performance of the Guyana Police Force for various reasons, including various perceptions of bias; it’s high time that victims come forward directly and indirectly so that at the end of the day any accusations levelled against the police and other State and non-state actors will be justified beyond contradiction.

 

Like in pursuing international legal remedies in most cases; the international courts must be satisfied that all domestic remedies have been exhausted. So, too, the Guyanese police must be given that fair opportunity to execute its mandate as far as is practicable.

 

At the same time, concerns about likely police intimidation and incarceration of Julius and his mother cannot be taken lightly in light of alleged batteryity forces of  persons at the hands of the security forces. Surely, this entire episode from contact with the alleged perpetrator to the recording and the publicity must be traumatic for Julius.

A midlle-ground  has to be found and any other similar cases that may emerge in the future. Options may include his signature and those of  his mother and other persons claiming to be knowledgeable about the entire episode to a sworn affidavit. Mind you, an affidavit will have to be ultimately tested in a court of law.

 

Should this approach be taken, it will be less of a stress and hassle on Julius’ mother and himself. At the same time, it will further enhance their position that they are bent on getting justice and minimize any doubts about their own involvement in black-mail, extortion and wiretapping.

 

As genuine as the tape sounds, the media must not allow this case to fall flat on its face whether in favour of the perpetrator or the victim. Failure to do so is to set a bad precedent that the media can be ‘used’ by people to achieve narrow, partisan agenda. The media have a responsibility to get to all sides of this sordid affair or its own credibility can be called into question, particularly if the mother refuses to cooperate to the full extent possible with the police and Child Protection Agency as well as any non-governmental organisation that is specialized in child and sexual abuse.

The police, too, need not wait on Julius or Julius’ mother to take steps to authenticate Kwame Mc Coy’s voice. It’s an utter shame and disgrace for the police to use the denial of one’s voice as an excuse for not using modern technology to ascertain whether one is lying. This must be done now, less the police force is accused of partisanship because Mc Coy is a functionary of the governing party and the Office of the President.

 

Clearly, the identity of the boy needs to be protected at all costs because that in itself can be a source of grave embarassment and trauma. However, this must be balanced with the dispensing of justice as an example to all right-thinking Guyanese.

Presidential self-profiling? (NOT INTERESTED IN JOB-SOURCES)

WELL PLACED SOURCES CLOSE TO AGRICULTURE MINISTER, ROBERT PERSAUD  TELL DEMERARA WAVES BLOG THAT CONTRARY TO THIS POST BELOW, HE IS NOT INTERESTED IN THE PRESIDENCY.

As Guyana prepares for a possible snap general election, presidential hopeful-Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud- spares no moment in profiling himself for the countrys top office.

While some may call it presidential mimickry, the reality is that Persaud’s profiling alone appears to send strong signals that he is eager to or is being groomed to sit behind the cacique crown on New Garden Street.

Take, for example, the fact that the Agriculture Minister is the only cabinet member to have had a personal assistant with him on all public engagements. Mind you,I am not talking about a bodyguard.

From sheltering Persaud from rainfall, the young man is now carrying coffee for the President-to-be. This he did today at the opening of the National Agriculture Research Institute’s research conference shortly after Persaud arrived and took his seat. That’s a key feature of President Jagdeo’s public appearances at meetings and conferences-his bodyguard gets him a cup of hot coffee, often carried around in a ‘presidential flask’.

And if you think that’s all; well Persaud is the only other cabinet member apart from President Bharrat Jagdeo who has a fully functional, equipped and well staffed media relations department. This department, which is responsible for keeping Persaud in the media several times each week, is perhaps the third largest such unit after the Presidents press and publicity unit and the Government Information Agency (GINA).

And how can we miss Persaud’s luxurious four wheeled drive vehicle which is fitted with a wireless two way communication system.

All of these props and preps Persaud expects to pay off as early as next year when snap general elections could be called. He, however, has to work harder to bypass political seniors like Peoples Progressive Party general secretary, Donald Ramotar and PPP executive council member Ralph Ramkarran.

At the end of the day, only one of the trio can be the President when early general elections are possibly held next year instead of 2011.

And don’t forget that you can log on to www.demerarawaves.com to listen to a live internet radio discussion this week Saturday at 6.00 PM on Periscope on Politics. We will be talking about the prevailing factors that point to a possible early general election.

Guyana’s broadcasting system cannot withstand a disaster

DEMOLISHED: Broadcasting House, High Street. Operations are now centralized at NCN Homestretch Avenue so all operations are affected at once

Tonight’s thunderstorm exposed how vulnerable are our radio and television broadcasting systems should a major storm pound Guyana’s coastland, particularly Demerara, which has the highest concentration of broadcasters.

Daylight-bright lightning followed by peals of thunder forced almost all television stations, including the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) off the air. NCN’s three radio frequencies – Voice of Guyana, 98.1 HOT FM and Radio Roraima were also off the air.

In an era where disaster preparedness experts around the world place a supremely high premium on mass communication, mainly through the medium of radio broadcasting, the authorities must move swiftly to avoid a repeat of this total shutdown in the future. While both the private and state-owned broadcasters must be commended for taking steps to ensure that their transmitters were not damaged beyond repair; it is a critical period such as a storm or any other natural or man-made disaster that sends people scampering to either their radio or televisions for any vital information.

In periods of potential disaster and uncertainty, the State broadcaster assumes an even greater role in fulfilling its mandate of remaining On Air for as long as is practicable even through the roughest periods of the storm as is the case in many Caribbean islands that are hurricane-prone.

Time was when the transmitting station at Sparendaam was equipped with a standby emergency studio facility to continue offering limited broadcast content in cases of emergency. Perhaps, the shutdown on Sunday evening of both state radio and television must be the price that the government is paying for centralising all its radio and television operations in one building. Disaster cannot be seen in isolation of  national security and mass communication is also a key component of disaster management.

Perhaps, the authorities found no use in learning their lesson from the closure of the studios at the old Guyana Broadcasting Service (GBS) Hadfield Street location that had once served as a ‘back-up’ or standby whenever Broadcasting House at High Street had been flooded or had no electricity.

Though, as was stated earlier, there is a higher degree of expectation and responsibility on the part of the State broadcaster;  the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) and the policy-makers in Cabinet should consider making it legally compulsory for at least three private television stations with the widest reach to have stand-by facilities in case of an emergency like Sunday’s thunderstorm.

Building specifications should include both natural and synthetic ‘earthing’ to withstand lightning, considerable elevation off the ground to avoid flooding, roof design and construction similar to those in the Caribbean’s hurricane belt and a standby generator with sufficient fuel.

Both private and public broadcasters should always have specially pre-recorded programmes on standby that can be played at a moment’s notice and be relevant to the type of emergency. Such content may include music, public service announcements and other programmes highlighting precautions to be taken depending on the circumstances.

While Guyana is on mainland South America and away from the hurricane zone, there are some basic lessons that both public and private broadcasters can learn when it comes to staying on air during a natural disaster. If its new name- Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is to mean anything, then it should play a lead role with broadcasters around the region in crafting protocols, procedures, content and codes for staying ON THE AIR in times of distress for a disaster will be much too late.