GUYANA'S ESCOBAR SYNDROME

It seems as though the conversion to being disciples of the 'Escobar Syndrome' in Guyana is all but complete. What is meant by Escobar syndrome? This is where the objectivity of people becomes blurred with respect to alleged wrongdoings by questionable characters after their prolific works of charity.

In other words, the so-called  philanthropist constantly gives and literally buys his/her way into the good graces of people. It is one thing when the less fortunate see those of this ilk as their savior. However, when those who have had more access to education begin to in local parlance "tie bundle" with these types, then the already blurred lines descend into murky waters.

In drawing the parallel of Colombia in the mid-1980s, it is eerily similar in present-day Guyana. Drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, in his native Medillin, built hospitals, churches, houses, he even had a football team. It was his large following of supporters among the impoverished and powerless in Colombia, which led Escobar into thinking that he could run for office. Is it entirely possible that this same impetus is now giving Azruddin Mohamed similar delusions of grandeur.

Evidence of how entrenched this syndrome is was on display Saturday, when hundreds of Guyanese showed up at  Mohamed's mansion in an attempt to thwart the Guyana Revenue Authority's enforcement officers from seizing four luxury vehicles including a Lamborghini. Ironically, a vehicle that Mohamed continued to drive freely on the roads of Guyana, despite its uninsured status following the imposition of the Magnitsky Sanctions. One then has to question why he was allowed to drive freely since that time, but now it is an issue. Also, how is it only now after several years that the GRA has concluded that these vehicles were undervalued? The timing does appear rather convenient.

Furthermore, how were the supporters able to gather so quickly and from behind the locked gates  challenge the GRA enforcement team and heavily armed police officers? Did the leak come from the GRA or the police? Before falling out with the PPP,  the Mohameds seemed to have a special relationship with the police force. At Christmas, uniformed police officers lined up outside Mohamed's place of business to receive cash handouts.

One has to question why driving expensive flashy sports cars, doling out money, and building houses seems to be all that is required to garner people's support/votes? Have the people of Guyana been so beaten down and  beleaguered by the false and broken promises of politicians that this is the result?  So long as they are getting handouts from that person, he is worthy and in their minds  capable of running the country. The fact that the Mohameds are under sanctions is absolutely of no moment to the man in the street. This is not something that can be easily dismissed. Being generous, the ratio of the underprivileged Guyanese to the ruling class appears to be around 70-80 percent. It was interesting to see that the large crowd of supporters behind Mohamed's locked gates also included older Guyanese. While the crowd  appeared to be mostly of African descent, there is also significant online support for Mohamed from Indo Guyanese openly expressing their disenchantment with the PPP. However, if the foregoing will actually influence the traditional voting patterns, that remains to be seen. It is no secret that we have an established pattern of voting along racial lines. Here is where it could get tricky. With vote splitting comes the risk of seats being lost. The very people who the  PNC and AFC expect to vote for them could vote for an alternative. Bearing in mind, that it is the fallout between the Mohameds and the PPP government that continues to fuel the Mohamed for president movement, it may be  prudent for the government and opposition to understand that this movement so to speak, has now taken on a life of its own.

Something that the both PPP government and the opposition seem to be dismissing and I dare say possibly to their detriment, is that ordinary and unconnected people have had enough of them both and now appear to be clutching at a figure with alleged shady dealings.  It is evident that they are seeing him as their salvation. Seemingly no longer afraid to speak up, social media is rife with overwhelming support for the Mohameds from the two largest ethnic groups.  There have been comments that range from "Mohamed is the poor peoples' president" to those vilifying the government for its efforts to recoup taxes allegedly owed on four luxury vehicle imports by Mohamed The latter is being viewed as retaliatory tactics by the PPP after the fallout between them coupled with Mohamed's growing popularity among the masses.

It is common knowledge that irrespective of the government of the day, lucrative contracts and jobs are directed to family and friends. Whether or not they are qualified for that position or capable of fulfilling said contracts never seems to matter. Guyanese appear to be fed up with this type of leadership.

One has to look no further than the awarding of the Bellevue pump station contract to Tepui Group and its principal Mikhail Rodrigues, aka Guyanese Critic. Millions of Guyanese tax payer dollars have gone down the drain.  Yet, the government has not made a single attempt to hold Rodrigues accountable for the fact that there is no work at all being done at this site for many months now. Why isn't the same judicious alacrity with which the Mohameds are being held accountable, not being employed to recover the contract money from Critic?

Already, losing face with the ordinary man due to what they believe is the continued unjust  harassment of Mohamed, fuel in the form of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was added to the fire. At his recent weekly press conference,   Jagdeo attacked Mohamed with a barrage of gibes reminiscent of a kindergarten playground anotomical measuring contest. In his effort to be dismissive of Mohamed, Jagdeo merely succeeded in angering the Barbadian people.

As it stands, we seem to be teetering on the edge of a precipice. Where Guyana goes from here is anyone’s guess. While I'm under no illusion that the ABC countries would not allow Mohamed with the particular shady allegations attached to him to ever be head of state, the flipside is that PPP in its desperation to retain power at any cost,  may act injudiciously. Then, the trouble will begin because the last thing the ABC countries want is an unstable political climate to disrupt its continued raping of Guyana's coveted oil resource.