Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza, undertaken to create a dystopian apocalypse of a wasteland devoid of human life, is becoming a reality with the support of Western arms and ammunition. At every stage of what B’Tselem, an Israeli NGO, describes as Israeli “war crimes,” Western countries blamed Hamas for its terrorism on October 7 and promoted Israel’s right to self-defence. With winks, nods and arms from Western countries, Israel has blocked the supply of food, fuel, water and medicines and rained bombs on Gazans. Most of Gaza’s buildings have been destroyed. To date 54,381 Palestinians, mostly women and children, are known to have been slaughtered.
Continue reading “ISRAEL’S GENOCIDAL WAR IN GAZA”INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL UNITY
As Guyana celebrates its 59th Anniversary as an Independent Nation, it faces many challenges, just as it did in earlier years. Converting a dependence syndrome into a sense of independence, creating the institutional structures of an independent nation, embarking on economic transformation, confronting the challenges of a deeply divided nation, negotiating a way between the raindrops of the Cold War, securing political power and dealing with the fallout, finding a way out of a colonial economy, and failing, unsuccessfully fending off the slow imposition of dictatorial rule, were some of the early challenges. Guyana’s earlier decades saw only modest economic growth, not sufficient to change reality on the ground, until oil prices went up in the mid-1970s. To cope, the seizure of high profits from the sugar industry, deprived it of capital, the effects of which are being felt today. The destruction of the rice industry took place by the early abandonment of the Cuban market and the nationalization of sale and marketing. The damage caused to these two vital areas of the economy, coupled with the loss of the vote of a section of the population, thereby depriving them of a voice, the later banning of food, affected one section of the population. The fears generated by the final restoration of democracy in 1992, affected the other. The ease with which Guyana can revert to the past by post-election violence, other mass activity sprinkled with sudden upsurges of unrest, and a pre-1992 electoral past, have all shaped the political attitudes and discourses which we experience today. The Opposition walkout from Parliament on Friday last, sad having regard to the Venezuelan threat, has its roots in this past history. Can it be changed?
Continue reading “INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL UNITY”VENEZUELAN BOMBAST AND CHINESE EVASION
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has unanimously affirmed its decision of 1 December 4 whereby it ruled as follows: “Pending a final decision…Venezuela shall refrain for taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails…whereby…Guyana exercises control over that area,” meaning Essequibo. On 1 May, 2025, on application by Guyana, the Court ruled that: “Pending a final decision… Venezuela shall refrain from conducting elections, or preparing to conduct elections in the territory… [over which] Guyana currently exercises control,” again referring to Essequibo. The three judges who opposed the latter order merely argued that it was not necessary because the order of 1 December, 2023, “in our view… fully and clearly addresses the concerns raised by Guyana…” It should be emphasized that, by the above finding, that China, India and Germany, the three dissenting countries, did not rule against Guyana. They merely argued that the Order of 1 December 2023 sufficiently constrains Venezuela in relation to Guyana’s complaints against Venezuela in relation to the latter’s proposed elections.
Continue reading “VENEZUELAN BOMBAST AND CHINESE EVASION”POPE LEO XIV
Out of a puff of white smoke, an American Pope appeared, to the astonishment of the world, including the United States. It had always been believed that the Catholic Church would not further elevate, and be seen to confer, more influence on the most economically and militarily powerful country in the worldby electing an American Pope. Even the United States had long accepted that it was unlikely that an American would be elected Pope to further enhance its already per-eminent place in the world. The explanation of an American Pope was attempted by Stabroek News, quoting an Italian academic, Professor Massimo Faggioli. He suggested, unconvincingly, that Cardinal Prevost’s past criticism of Donald Trump and JD Vance, coupled with the international upheaval created by the Trump presidency, made the impossible possible. But much deeper currents in the Catholic Church appear to be flowing.
Continue reading “POPE LEO XIV”THE SECOND AUTOPSY AND RELATED ISSUES
The family of Adrianna Young, through their lawyer, have asked a second autopsy of the body. From what has been published in the press, there was no reason given for the request. Surely, after an autopsy conducted by three prominent pathologists, the authorities should be given an explanation as to why a second autopsy is required. It could be that the family believes that an error was made, a conclusion was incorrect, a finding was not supported by the investigations, or something else was amiss. Whatever the reason, if the support of the Minister of Health is sought, surely the reason for the request needs to be given. I presume that the permission of the Minister of Health is necessary for an official autopsy, that is, one that is required to be taken into consideration by the Police in their investigations. That could be the reason for the request made to the Minister. It could also be that his permission is required for use of the Ministry’s facilities.
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