So the party is on! Now we spote; but we ain’t gat money? How so? Still, we will have fireworks galore.In the meantime, the sugar workers are on the breadline. How indifferent and uncaring!
The government appears to be flummoxed, and myopic, not knowing the next step – checkmate. They have done everything wrong regarding the oil deals. Ministers Winston Jordan, Joseph Harmon, David Patterson, Raphael Trotman, Dominic Gaskin, and others are all smart people who got stumped – either because they were hoodwinked or they intentionally acquiesced. Smart, but…. Knowledge is not wisdom, necessarily. Wisdom comes when knowledge is processed and internalized for the common good – good for humanity and global biome. Everything was done in a rush without due prior consultation, and not heeding advice of well-intentioned knowledgeable people.
I pose many questions, and therein may lie answers.
Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman is quoted: “I am a Minister, I am a Minister in a Cabinet of Ministers and before the contract was signed I was duly advised and duly instructed to sign it.” Who instructed Trotman? Did he have to listen without questioning? Did he wobble because his spine softened – a case of devolution! What about the other ministers? What about the erstwhile energy expert Dr. Mark Bynoe? He is highly qualified. He was head of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre and, therefore, must understand the impact of the fossil extractive industries regarding CO2 emission and climate change. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre lucidly states its objectives. Is Dr. Mark Bynoe back peddling? Is it a kind of amnesia? Or was he also “instructed”?
What about Dr. Vincent Adams, the Executive Director of EPA? He speaks to the operation of gold mining, which is laudable, but is silent on fossil fuel and it effect on climate change, and potential oil spills.
What about the Churches? The Human Rights Organization? Iwokrama? NGO’s? Businesses? Academics? Some are passive; some sleeping; some don’t-care-a-damn; some waiting to cash in!Please, let us all wake up.
And before the party gets too big, let us remind ourselves about the reality. Please look at this short video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWrGTu-apo0. And sober up.
Gary Girdhari
