There was insufficient newspaper reporting yesterday on the reasons for the dismissal of the charge against Mr. Sherrod Duncan for referring to a person as a ‘trench crappo’ and a ‘jagabbat’ to determine whether this type of vulgar abuse is legally permitted. Or whether it is vulgar abuse at all. For example, it is not known whether or not the Court ruled that some essential legal element of the charge was not proved or whether the words did not constitute cyber bullying, for which Mr. Duncan was charged. Some reporting clarity would have been useful because, while I do not descend to vulgar abuse privately or publicly, I might have considered a revised approach to polemics, even though its rather late in my blogging career. Who knows? The use of vulgar abuse might even elevate me to the high stature of Mr. Duncan, a parliamentarian, educator, scholar and man of faith.
Continue reading “TRENCH CRAPPO”G 20
The 18th Summit of the G 20, comprising 19 countries and the European Union, takes place this weekend in New Delhi, India. The Presidency of G 20 is held by India for last year and ends with this Summit. Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, will be the official Chairman under the theme proposed by India of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future.’ At the end of the discussions the Summit is likely to adopt a communique referred to as the Leaders’ Declaration, expressing their commitment to the goals contained in the Declaration. This Declaration is usually thrashed out in scores of Ministerial Meetings and of Working Groups during the course of the preceding year. The 19 countries in the G 20 are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK and the US.
Continue reading “G 20”‘EXPLORE ALL TOOLS’ FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS
What are these tools? I was a member of the Elections Commission for the 1973 elections. I was also a member of the Elections Commission for the 1992, 1997 and 2001 elections. I have witnessed first-hand the ‘tools’ used in the darkest days of election rigging in 1973, the incipient steps in 1992 to put in place the basic tools to ensure free and fair elections and the explosion of resources, staffing, training, equipment, education, publicity, some of it with generous foreign help, for the Elections Commission. Since I had developed an interest in election management, I thereafter followed developments closely and was impressed with the work of the Elections Commission under its Chair Steve Surujballi to further perfect the election management methodologies. There is nothing in the structure of the Elections Commission or in its rules and practices, and no shortage of tools, that hinder free and fair elections. It is the culture of thievery that is deeply embedded in one part of our political culture that is responsible for election rigging. Unless there are structural reforms to our governance system, this culture of thievery will persist.
Continue reading “‘EXPLORE ALL TOOLS’ FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS”BRICS
First coined as an acronym for some emerging economies in 2001, BRIC countries formally emerged in 2009 at a diplomatic meeting in Russia involving Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa became a member in 2010 when the group’s name changed to BRICS. Its primary focus at that time was reforming the global financial system, stabilizing the global economic situation and finding ways to give developing countries, which included some members of BRICS, a stronger voice. While there is no doubt that the Western economic crash in 2008 must have given an impetus to the formation of BRICS, the assertion of the economic interests of the South by the formation of BRICS must be seen in the larger context of the economic dominance of the North over economic and political institutions and the growing multilateral sentiments in the world. The emerging economic clout of the BRICS countries, particularly China, India and Brazil, underlined the formation of BRICS and has ensured its survival. Before this summit last week in South Africa, it had already been established as a global force with an influential impact on world affairs. Countries subjected to restrictive trade practices and sanctions will now have an ally in efforts to challenge the dominance of the North.
Continue reading “BRICS”THE BLOOD NEVER DRIED OVER THE BRITISH EMPIRE
The Demerara Rebellion of 18 August 1823 was a seminal event in the history of enslaved resistance in British Guiana and in the colonial world. Its exposure of the horrors of slavery, along with the Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica on 17 December 1831, involving 60,000 enslaved persons, 400 of whom died, and an area of 750 square miles, speeded up its demise. Jack Gladstone was the Rebellion’s principal organizer and leading militant but his contribution to the abolition of slavery in 1838 and the advancement of freedom is little known and has not been fully acknowledged until Professor da Costa’s book, Crowns of Glory, Tears of Blood – The Demerara Slave Rebellion of 1823 (1997).
Continue reading “THE BLOOD NEVER DRIED OVER THE BRITISH EMPIRE”