Let the recount progress without constant threats to the people
Dear Editor,
GUYANESE at home and abroad, for some time now, have begun to feel tired and fatigued by the constant threats of the People ‘s Progressive Party (PPP)’s Leader and General Secretary, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo. He is using ever opportunity to tell the nation bow much sanctions they will receive if be does not get bis way.
As if the COVID-19 is not enough of a dark cloud, which everyone is trying to avoid, Mr. Jagdeo has been threatening the entire nation that sanctions will come down “like a ton of bricks”. There is no separation of economic sanctions, and these will affect everyone in the country, even the so-called rich and the powerful in the PPP.
At one of his weekly press conferences, Mr. Jagdeo told the media, “We will ask for a stoppage of all the funds flowing from the multilateral institutions. We’re going to ask the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (I MF) and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to shut down all, disbursements to Guyana … There is bilateral curtailment of funds, so Norway has made it clear that they [government) will not receive any money there.”
WHO IS ICE
TH REATENING?
Brookings (US) Research Institution study on sanctions defined it, “as mostly economic but also political and military penalties introduced to alter political and/or military behaviour, are employed by the United States to discourage the proliferation Qf weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, bolster human rights, end terrorism, thwart drug trafficking, discourage armed aggression, promote market access, protect the environment, and replace governments:·
Which Qne of these activities is Mr. Jagdeo is interested in; is it the very last one, ‘replace government’? For there is no way that Mr. Jagdeo would not know that these sanctions and other outrageous requests against Guyana from the international community that he and the PPP is making will ultimately affect all of the people of this country, though some more than others.
The ‘ordinary man’ is in the majority in any country, and Guyana is no exception. Therefore, they will indeed feel the brunt of the blade if any of those threats should come to pass. In addition to the immediate impact of sanctions on trade with the target, many American businessmen claim that the effects of even limited unilateral US sanctions go well beyond targeted sectors. They also argue that the effects linger long after the)’ are lifted, because US firms have come to be regarded as “unreliable suppliers”. Sanctioned countries may avoid buying from US exporters, even when sanctions are not in place, thus giving firms m other countries a competitive advantage in those markets.
Further, studies also show that sanctions cost U.S. companies billions of dollars a year in lost sales and returns on investment, and cost many thousands of workers their Jobs; sanctions lend to be easier to introduce than to lift, and are almost always more difficulty to change the status quo than to continue with It.
LEADER; FATH.ER
OF THE NATION
Which leader who is worth his salt would want to invite sanctions on any nation, whether it is where he or she is from or on another country? Clearly, in this case, none would escape; all would be consumed. Mahatma Gandhi was referred to as the Father of the Nation because he created a strong emotional bonding among the different peoples all across India. The people respected him for that. Other than his humility, his ability to involve women in decision-making, as well as his show of much respect for them caused him to gam tremendous political mileage.
President David Granger cannot be named once by the opposition PPP as being an instigator of any form of trouble on this land; he leads with respect for self and the people. HE can be considered as Father of the nation. He’d rather keep silent than attempt to say things that are tormenting or laughable to the people. And even in this case, they may still feel some amount of anger. How unfair to the people.
The recount continues, ever though there have a number of discrepancies highlighted by the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change coalition (APN”U+AFC). In a press release, it reported that there is “a clear emerging pattern of PPP contamination of the March 2, elections … unmistakahle
pattern of irregularities, discrepancies and worse have emerged.”
Regards,
Mark Dacosta
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_e-paper_5-13-2020