THE FUTURE OF THE PNC

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Saturday, 6th March 2021, 9:00 pm

The spectacle displayed by the APNU+AFC in Parliament during last week signals the PNC’s return to the Opposition. Its loss of office in 1992 after 28 years was marked by ethnic violence, disruption of the National Assembly and vocal hostility therein to a PPP Government Minister of African Guyanese ancestry. As if history is repeating itself, the loss of office this time around was marked by a repeat of the identical type of events, after unlawfully holding office and then attempting to rig the elections. Trump-like, The PNC, perpetuates the myth that the then Opposition PPP, with no influence over the election machinery, somehow manufactured tens of thousands of fake votes.

Continue reading “THE FUTURE OF THE PNC”

YOU DON’T NEED A CAR, YOU NEED A BROOMSTICK

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Saturday, 27th February 2021, 9:00 pm

These words were uttered by a male Guyana Member of Parliament to a female Member when she was talking about cars being purchased by the Government for Ministers. I will not reveal her or the tormentor’s name, a well-known heckler of his time (I attribute this story to Kamal Ramkarran). With the rise of the @MeToo movement and opposition to degrading remarks about women, such a comment would not be appropriate today. For the same reason, neither would Winston Churchill’s alleged remark to Bessie Braddock when she told him ‘Winston, you are drunk, and what’s more, you are disgustingly drunk.’ He retorted: “Bessie, my dear, you are ugly, and what’s more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow, I will be sober and you will be disgustingly ugly.’ There is some uncertainty as to the truth of the exchange. But it has entered the Churchill folklore.

Continue reading “YOU DON’T NEED A CAR, YOU NEED A BROOMSTICK”

CHINA’S RELATIONS WITH GUYANA

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Saturday, 20th February 2021, 9:00 pm

Guyana holds a special place in China’s diplomatic history. It opened diplomatic relations with China as far back as 1972, the first country in this region to do so and at a time when China was struggling to break the bonds of isolation. China has always been grateful and developed political relations with the PNC, adding to that which had been historically established with the PPP.

Continue reading “CHINA’S RELATIONS WITH GUYANA”

NO NEW TAXES

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Saturday, 13th February 2021, 9:00 pm

The public is hardly interested in the details of budgetary explanations and analysis and for many like myself, I find going through figures to be sheer drudgery. But I could not help but feel a sense of elation at the conclusion of the budget speech by the Minister responsible for Finance. As was expected, and consistent with his first term as Minister of Finance, the Budget projected a sense of optimism and this was underlined by increasing benefits for the most vulnerable, removal of burdensome taxes and increased expenditure for services and infrastructure.

Continue reading “NO NEW TAXES”

TAIWAN

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Saturday, 6th February 2021, 9:00 pm

As is to be expected, a complete reorientation of US-Guyana relations took place with the visit of Secretary of State Pompeo in September last year. With the emerging importance of Guyana as a petroleum producing state, it was natural that the US would want to place greater emphasis of its relations with Guyana. The critical role of the US Government in promoting free and fair elections resulting in a change in government provided the opportunity for the unusual high level visit of Secretary of State Pompeo. It could be that the Secretary’s visit reflected deep US concern at the Venezuelan Decree that Guyana’s maritime space, including the area covering the Stabroek Block, was under its military jurisdiction., thereby posing a significant threat to US economic interests.

Continue reading “TAIWAN”