It could be considered official: the US Government has almost openly endorsed the PPP Government of Guyana for the next elections. This is not an exaggeration. For confirmation, I encourage reading of the US Department of State Report on Human Rights Practices in 2023 for Guyana. It’s all there, from what was seen, how such was seen, and what was preferred not to be seen. I need to have a hard chat with this guy Antony J. Blinken. In one sentence, the US Government settled for the view from 35,000 feet. Hence, it could only speak in generalities, use evasive language, and make a total fool of US taxpayers. I am one and I register my objections in broad strokes. America is now the world leader in deception and hypocrisy, when its interests are involved.
Per State, the PPP Government did good to great. The bad boys are some in the Guyana Police Force, a helpless, hogtied, and hapless scapegoat. Who shot whom, and who is awaiting trial. Other than for indigenous rights, most other areas of human rights concerns were given an indifferent look, an American gloss. Where do the US Department people have their heads buried? I offer commercial interests. Keep Guyana on even keel, gently does it. If what the State Department did on Guyana was not a copout to spruce up Guyana, then it is back to school for me.
“Credible reports of arbitrary unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings” was the heaviest negative reported. The police took a beating right from the start in the Executive Summary. American Ambassador, Excellency Nicole D. Theriot should know who is responsible for the police, the state in which it finds itself. In State Department verbiage, “appalling, deplorable.” Guyanese would say grave. There is IDPADA-G! a testimony to leadership calumny.
In that same Exec Summary, a fable is being perpetuated by people who are paid from my tax dollars. “The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuse.” The PPP Government only did so when the public clamor was unrelenting. One minister leaving on his own terms, which mocks “credible steps to identify and punish.” Others are still around, wreaking havoc. Remember Mahdia. Think of Chinese Landing.
Then, under Section E titled “Denial of Fair Public Trial.” I stretch limits here into commerce. Listen to this lump of something offensive: “the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.” Is that from the US State? Or does that sound closer to local State-controlled media? For when Exxon is on trial, the government led attempts to upend judicial rulings that favored Guyanese interests. Independence or intrusion? Perhaps, State missed when an American oilman claimed receipt of a judicial “guarantee” from the government. Don’t worry. If that is a free and unfettered judiciary, then State lost its way.
Of Mr. Blinken this is asked: how in the name of American idealism and exceptionalism can there be conclusions about an independent judiciary when two female jurists are suspended in midair for eons now? When Guyanese possessing basic education are aware why they are held up, frozen. I offer discrimination, gender discrimination, political discrimination. State should recall what goes on with judicial nominations in its own backyard in DC. Independent judiciary is a myth, more form over substance. Plenty of paper, no practices to corroborate.
Next, there is Section 2 -Respect for Civil Liberties. “The government generally respect this right.” It is the one dealing with freedom of expression, and an uninhibited media. I say this loud and clear: the PPP Government did not, does not, respect freedom of expression, freedom of the independent media, freedom of thought and ideas. Contrarian ones. For mühlet, there are numerous media outlets, the qualifier is that most are government proxies. Media professionals have been reviled by senior government leaders; media contributors criminalised. But the US State Department’s report speaks of “respect” for free speech.
The America’s State Dept can’t be ignorant of Live in Guyana, a government managed Gestapo crew posse. Fabrications, intimidations, vilifications, and libels laws weaponized and directed at those exercising their right to free thinking, free commerce in the marketplace of frank communication. The State Department sugarcoated Guyana’s realities and documented what it imagined. No wonder America is in such a shambolic state, universally denounced. I appreciate even more why so many have resigned from Foggy Bottom. America’s bottom is as bare as a baby’s, just as smeared.
Moving along to Section 3: Freedom to Participate in the Political Process. Voting, müddet. But venture to identify with an opposing party and a life sentence results. Doors slammed in face. Opportunities cease up, vanish. Supporters of opponents neutralized, scandalized, vandalized.
Section 5 focused on Corruption in Government and reported that “government generally implemented the law effectively.” Guyanese laugh derisively. This is the willfully blind looking out for the PPP Government because it looks out for Exxon. What about contract corruption, ministerial corruption, leadership corruption? Covered up. Ignored. Those are not the law “implemented…effectively “but avoided studiously. Regrettably, the US State Department sounds like political leaders, the police, the procurement commission, and the whole cabal of aiders and abettors in Guyana.
I skipped over to Section 7 and Workers’ Rights. The law provided for those, said State, and “the government did not effectively enforce the law.” Finally. There is some accuracy on Guyanese reality from State re collective bargaining and other violations. Overall, a good report for the PPP Government, a terrible one from the US State Dept. it shouldn’t surprise that colleges and cities in America are awash in angry protests, the battleground raging at American double standards. It is why senators and presidents make fools of themselves to defend the indefensible.
Conclusion: the State Department report is a clever scheme of smoothing over, wishing away, and looking the other way. The unsupportable propped up by the insidious. It was why Forbes Burnham lasted as long as he did. American fingerprints.