Campbell's Commentary - CARICOM’S POLITICAL CONUNDRUM

By Aubrey Campbell

NEW YORK, NY. Tuesday, July 21, 2020 -- Ladies and gentlemen, there is heat in the place and especially in the Caribbean region where another section of the political architecture is about to get a make-over.

But before we go to Port of Spain and then onto Kingston, let’s stop in Georgetown, for a moment and hope that by the time you are reading this, things would have changed, for the better!

All things being equal, and depending on the ruling of the court, Guyanese nationals are either celebrating or cursing their luck!

Either way, it’s about time that a decision is arrived at relative to the March 2, general elections to determine a government for the next 5 years, as the country settles into the prospectus of an oil producing nation.

Did the ruling coalition government of APNU/AFC lose the election to the opposition PPP/Civic? And given all that we now know, it is not hard to see and understand why the fight has been allowed to continue past the fifteenth round.

There is simply too much at stake.

David Granger knows that. Moses Nagamootoo knows that. Irfaan Ali knows that and so too does the master politician turned magician, Bharrat Jagdeo.

The only account I have of people being raised from the dead, is in the Holy Bible!

And in Jamaica, where I come from, people vote early and often in the general election!

I am however concerned that after all that finger dipping, finger pointing, vote buying and downright cheating, neither side has opted for a ‘do over’. Read the ‘Caribbean Life’ newspaper front page story of July 17, and you will see what I’m talking about.

And not only that, it is disgusting to say the least, that with all the bullshit surrounding the Donald J. Trump administration in the ever expanding swamp in Washington, DC, his attack dog, Mike Pompeo, find it necessary to be threatening Guyanese government officials with visa revocation, get this, for preventing the swearing in of a ‘new’ government!

Are you for real?

Is that not interference?

Let Guyana decide its own destiny. The two major political parties know that the election was rigged. That’s why the decision was/is delayed. Just before Christmas 2018, the PPP/Civic outsmarted a comatose APNU/AFC.

The billion-dollar (oil) question is, were they outsmarted a second time on March 2?

Let’s head over to Port of Spain, where a week before the start of Cricket, lovely cricket, TNT massive will go to the polls to elect a ‘new’ government and already, quite a bit of writing is on the wall.

To begin with, Kamla has a score to settle with the good doctor and current PM, Keith Rowley. And then there is the indomitable ‘Uncle’ Jack, who has a beef to settle with Kamla, the kind of beef that will go well with some nicely seasoned and stewed beanstalks.

LMAO…!

Last week, a desperate Kamla was out and about, in the virtual space, imploring all and sundry to join her global coalition party to topple Dr. Keith, who for all intents and purposes, may just have the right vaccine in this pandemic challenged environment, to cure all that’s ailing her, politically.

And if that’s not enough intrigue, provided that the voters’ list has been sufficiently sanitized, factor in what could be a resurrection from the dead, for Austin Jack Warner.

You will remember that then PM Kamla Persad Bissessar gave ‘Uncle’ Jack a prime ministerial portfolio, after he had used some of the FIFA loot to fund the campaign, only for her to soon after fire him in disgrace, to save her pretty face – indeed, she is a beautiful woman – after FIFA, the world governing body for football (soccer), fingered him in a massive bribery scandal, that shook the foundation of the once squeaky-clean organization and toppled the God’s of the sport.

The nine pins are still falling. FIFA has not been the same, since!

Guilty or not, ‘Uncle’ Jack has been a marked man since, wanted by Uncle Sam!

To show you the mettle of the man. He went and formed his own political party, the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), and will contest the August 10, election on that ticket, extradition or not!

Power is a bitch!

Only time will tell.

Next stop. Kingston, where the pandemic is under wraps but not acts of corruption and skullduggery by those elected to serve the people, on the rock.

Consider this for a minute. Jamaica being the envy of the world for its handling of the corona virus disease and in the same breath, being the scorn of the international community for its high and rising, corruption index!

How is that, context by a prime minister who is under 50 years old?

Corruption, cronyism, nepotism and all kind of schisms that is sapping the energy of the faithful.

When will it end?

It seems as if every election cycle, the government tries to outdo the previous administration in how much it can pillar and plunder the national purse. That is just not right.

So, to now hear the opposition chiding the government for trying to move/keep the rats from the cookie jar, as not doing/going far enough, is really laughable. They are all one and the same. No better barrel, no better herring!

You don’t know who to trust. You see a man face but you don’t know his heart.

Read my lips!

Tough, to rahtid.

Did you read my lips?

I get it. Playing musical chairs with the miscreants and portfolios at the level of minister, is not the way to go, or maybe it is, in a country where the justice system is badly broken!

A third political party might be the answer for Jamaica at this time. Think about it. Smaller countries, territories if you prefer, and right next door to Jamaica, have more than two functioning political parties.

And while you are doing that, I’m thinking about my next talking point for next week.

I thank you.

You have the floor!

--end—

Editor’s note. Aubrey Campbell is producer/host of ‘Caribbean Conversation’, airing Sundays at 2- 4 pm, on WVIP, 93.5 FM, and streaming on the Wee Radio Network at, www.weeradioonline.com.