Insisting on bestowing the title of “Elder” on himself, former (?) PNC strongman Hamilton “Bilal” Green took the PPP to task for excising the words “Marxism-Leninism” and “Socialism” from their party’s constitution!! Now if this isn’t chutzpah to the max, what is?? Can you imagine anything more laughable?? Imagine Burnham – who was Green’s lodestar for his whole life – said he quit the PPP because of Jagan’s insistence on pushing those very two “isms” – and now Green has a problem?? It doesn’t take even a dimwit to see that the man dost protest too much about a matter which is absolutely NO concern of his!! But Green isn’t just a “pot salt” – mischief is always afoot when he enters the stage!!
So let’s look at some of his “reasons” for balking at the PPP’s change. “To those of us who shared the sacrifices to gain Independence and therefore control of our destiny, this move constitutes a worrisome advent. The founding Fathers of the PPP fought against imperialist dictation and the filthy fathomless features of colonial control and exploitation”!!”Sacrifices to gain independence”?? Surely Green hasn’t forgotten he was Burnham’s chief foot soldier when he sold his soul to the CIA and betrayed Jagan’s vision ?? Wasn’t it Green who executed the PNC’s X-13 Plan that unleashed terror and bloodshed into our politics – to maintain “colonial control and exploitation”??
Green then claims he fears for the future of “the principles of a living democracy, which sets out the four pillars upon which freedom and democracy rest, the Executive; (b) the Parliament; (c) the Judiciary and (d) the fourth estate – that is the independent and responsible media.” Did he tell this to Burnham when the self-styled Kabaka created the Executive Presidency that gave him more powers than any European Monarch?? Or when he declared the “paramountcy” of the PNC over the Government and State?? Or when he flew the PNC flag over the Court of Appeal?? Or when he banned the importation of newsprint so that the press couldn’t produce newspapers??
Then he fears for the sanctity of the Constitution!! ROTFL!! Did he tell this to Fat Boy when he changed the entire constitution and accepted not a single suggestion from ANY institution – including Polly’s TUC that had supported him?? And then held a referendum just to say that when his tailor-made constitution was completed, there’d be no need for a referendum for the Guyanese people to approve it!! So we got a “pig in a poke” constitution!! And for the umpteenth time we’re trying to fix it!!
Your Eyewitness thinks the entire document ought to be garbaged and we establish a Constituent Assembly to draft a new one!!
Gwan da side, Green!!
…for NGOs registration
It’s another instance of the PPP being damned if they do and damned if they don’t!! This time it’s about their proposal to draft legislation to streamline and simplify the registration of NGOs. Funny thing is the chief complainer – which is the self-anointed NGO paragon – accepts that the present situation’s a mess and there’s need for NGOs to be monitored since they can be used for money laundering, etc. Right now NGOs can register under the Ministry of Social Protection’s Friendly Society Act as a cooperative and another under the Ministry of Labour. Or can be registered as a business – like IPADAG did – but balk at questions about where the money’s going or who own the shares!! Something clearly gotta be done to clear this Augean Stable!
The real fear, your Eyewitness suspects, is that under the new legislation – which is gonna be vetted through public consultations – the modus operandi of NGOs like the GHRA which receive oodles of foreign funding – will be exposed!
…and a challenge
The PNC’s June leadership bout is heating – up with the usual trash talk!! Imagine Roysdale Forde, SC, sez that he’s for street protests – unlike Norton!! As Burnham used to say, “No way canoe can bore punt!!”
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