‘HALL YUH ASS’

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Saturday, 4th January 2014, 7:00 pm

Just as the year was ending, a popular phrase used as often jocularly as insultingly, has become very contentious. Two politicians, who are likely to be with us for a long time, have been squabbling for two weeks over it. Unless resolved early in this New Year, the dispute can lead to the phrase dominating our political outlook. Its use may even be extended from politicians to the Guyanese people.

It will be recalled that Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan accused the Government of distributing the front lands on the East Bank to developers who were the Government’s supporters and allocating the back lands to low income Guyanese. Minister Ali, responsible for Housing, invited Mr. Ramjattan to a press conference at which he intended to address the accusations. Minister Ali’s staff, as instructed, reminded Mr. Ramjattan by telephone on the day of the press conference. What exactly transpired over the telephone is in dispute. However,  it is admitted by Mr. Ramjattan that he told Minister Ali’s staff to tell Minister Ali to ‘hall his ass.’

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LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Saturday, 28th December 2013, 7:00 pm

The struggle of the working class and the organised activity of the trade union movement have substantially determined the course of Guyana’s history. While Guyana was not unique, it led the way with the formation in 1922 by Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow of the BGLU (British Guiana Labour Union), the first trade union registered in the British Empire in 1922.

Several trade unions were formed subsequently, among them the TWU (Transport Workers Union). Registered in 1938, it had become by the mid 1940s one of the largest and most militant. The Teare Strike by the TWU in 1947 was called to protest the suspension of two workers for trade union activity. It lasted for two weeks, crippled the movement of people and goods in the country and succeeded in its objective of obtaining a commitment that the contract of Colonel Teare, who was the authoritarian British General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department, would not be renewed after it expired, an unheard of concession at that time. This strike most likely energised sugar workers and the GIWU (Guyana Industrial Workers Union), the predecessor to GAWU, into renewed struggle the following year, leading to the tragic loss of life at Enmore by the Martyrs.

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MINING IN THE MURI MOUNTAINS

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Saturday, 21st December 2013, 7:00 pm

Like every other serious investment venture in recent times, the PGGS (Permission for Geophysical and Geological Surveys) granted to Muri Brasil Ventures Inc. in November last year has come under serious questioning and has given rise to suspicion and innuendo.

Little public information has ever been given to the issue of a PGGS before. Even after the massive failure of public relations over the Amaila Hydropower Project, the Government’s continued to display reticence on investment matters. This continues to generate controversy and harm to its reputation and that of its Ministers. Normal clauses and concessions which are in every PGGS, occasioned in this case a wave of suspicion because they were brought to public attention in a negative light, in a politically charged manner.

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A CONSENSUS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Sunday, 15th December 2013, 9:46 am

Frustration at the political gridlock which obstructs all progress now pervades our politics. It has resulted in well meaning persons raising the issue once again of a consensus presidential candidate for the Opposition. This proposal, always just below the political surface, has more resonance at this time than any other in view of the 2011 election results. In earlier times political supporters of the Opposition often raised the idea in the hope that if accepted, it may attract enough supporters from the PPP to give the Opposition an absolute majority. Now that the Opposition together have a majority, many feel that a consensus presidential candidate can now bring victory to the Opposition.

As is well known the Guyana Constitution does not permit two or more Parties which together obtain a majority of the votes at elections to select the head of government or form the government. The Party which obtains the plurality wins the Presidency and can form a minority government as is the case now.

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The Conversation Tree is both physical and philosophical. The physical is the tree itself, which has given its name to the road from which it originates at the intersection of the Rupert Craig Highway. It was reputedly first planted by Napleton William King in 1876 to celebrate the birth of his son Napleton Walter. As...
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