Conversation Tree

LETITIA JAMES JOINS HAKEEM JEFFRIES TO EXPLOIT RACE IN GUYANA

Rickford Burke, well known Guyanese anti-PPP political activist in New York, has finally landed a political gold mine. Burke’s long and unrelenting campaign alleging racism against the PPP and its governments occupied the fringes of the political discourse in the New York diaspora for many years. Burke’s distance from some past PNC leaderships had relegated him to a sideshow in Guyana’s opposition politics in New York. Burke, now in favour, has creatively linked the vote of the African Guyanese diaspora in Brooklyn, New York, with African American politicians in New York who rely on those votes for re-election. Burke can no longer be considered a fringe or marginalized political activist. How far his campaign, marked by dedicated persistence, will go cannot be predicted although its influence on Guyana’s political direction will remain limited to being a vocal irritant.

SARAH ANN LYNCH

The Ambassador of the United States of America to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Her Excellency Mme. Sarah Ann Lynch, is about to conclude her assignment in Guyana. Ambassador Lynch has been the most consequential resident American representative in Guyana in its history. The impact of her diplomatic work has surpassed that of all other Americans, with the exception of President Jimmy Carter.

THE FALL OF LIZ TRUSS AND THE COLLAPSE OF HER NEOLIBERAL AGENDA

The latest manifestation of neoliberalism, Trussonomics, reflecting a combination of the surname of the former British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, and her economic policies, has collapsed spectacularly in the United Kingdom. Ms. Truss, from the right wing of the Conservative Party, defeated Rishi Sunak, a moderate former Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister), in a bruising battle for support among approximately 170,000 Conservative Party members for Leader of the Party from which Boris Johnson, Prime Minister and Party Leader, had resigned after a series of scandals. Her defining policy proposal was to trigger growth of the British economy by reducing taxes on big business and the wealthy. Ms. Truss won and was sworn in as Prime Minister on 6 September. Her mandate was from the Conservative Party, not the electorate.

THE RIGGING OF ELECTIONS BY THE PPP – FACT AND FANTASY

In the 1961 elections 218,357 persons voted. The PPP obtained 93,085 votes (42.63%) and 20 seats, the PNC 89,501 (40.99%) and 11 seats and the UF 35,771 (16.38%) and 4 seats. As a result of a successful election petition against the results in the Houston constituency, in which 7,389 persons voted, the High Court found that fraud took place. Criminal charges heard later in the Magistrates’ Court arising from the allegations of fraud were dismissed. These two conflicting decisions in different courts faced the Governor who was responsible for the elections under Article 80 of the 1961 constitution. For whatever reason he did not exercise his authority to call a by-election for Houston. Had a by-election been held, whatever the results, it would not have affected the overall results of the PPP being the winner.

THE PRICE OF PROGRESS

I live in ‘Old Bel Air.’ It was previously known as ‘Plantation Bel Air.’ The prefix, ‘Plantation,’ fell into disuse after Old Bel Air became part of Greater Georgetown in the late 1960s or thereabouts.In order to distinguish it from Bel Air Gardens, Bel Air Park and Bel Air Springs, it began to be referred to as ‘Bel Air Village.’ Legal requirements must be complied with to create a ‘village’ which have not been implemented in relation to “Old Bel Air, so that its not a village. Thus my preference for ‘Old Bel Air.’ My great, great grandfather, Beny, came to British Guiana on 19^th January, 1875, with his wife, Birmee, and three children, indentured to Plantation Bel Air.