OPINION: Susan Rodrigues – Guyana’s fierce political enmities displayed 

Last Updated on Friday, 9 January 2026, 21:05 by Writer

By GHK Lall

Guyana is now the equivalent of a political warzone, a live minefield underfoot; one wrong move and bring out the dirges. Almost without interruption, there is one or another political firefight breaking out. Fierce. Unrelenting. Brutal, and no prisoners taken. Well, I can’t be anywhere near these abominations that call themselves national dialogue, and so go my own way, as usual. It has to do with Minister Susan Rodrigues.

She may be all those things hurled at her, and more. But I just cannot condone that, nor see merit in the assaults directed at her. It is now the unspoken standard in Guyana that all is fair and acceptable in politics. Like hell it is. It isn’t for me. For the record, Ms. Rodrigues is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and I have seen her in the audience a couple of times when I was on the high altar sharing with the assembly. Never spoken to her, never had any interaction with her, other than maybe the Communion line. With that out of the way, I move forward.

I identify with underdogs, because I am one. I empathize with those who are being pushed down to the point where they can be kicked around more easily. The political class and underclass tried that with me, and that business is still unfinished. Many claims and accusations have been laid on Minister Rodrigues’ head. She is entitled to the benefit of the doubt. To date, she isn’t guilty of anything, so let’s not try her and condemn her in the street of public opinion, and the dark back alleys of Guyana’s dirty politics. Just as how I have asserted that Minister Rodrigues is not guilty of anything, I make clear that she must be seen as innocent until the facts determine otherwise. What I am laying out here for the minister is the exact same position that I have taken with former Minister Nigel Dharamlall and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. When the storms threatened to snuff the air out of Minister Dharamlall, I tried to be that voice of reason and sanity – giving the man some space. And, also for Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, when he was cornered by VICE News, based on the representations of one of his associates, who also happened to be his tenant. My position then is the same now for Minister Rodrigues: do not callously bullrush and recklessly tear apart people accused not by the State, but by the times and circumstances that may have much more underneath.

Indeed, there is Florida, with documents that link her to property there, even a job. She has submitted her statement about source of funds, and so forth, and yet the knives are out and looking to taste blood. I know a witch hunt and a hunting party when I see them, having been near those more than once, thanks to the PPP of Jagdeo and Ali. I know a frenzied mob, or a politicized posse (at least), when that hate-filled, distorted, face is seen. I think that Minister Rodrigues has outlined her position. It is up to the seniors in the PPP to decide if she is worth saving, or she is a liability, having become too toxic to the touch.

To be frank, I have heard many things of the minister, most of them some distance from the paths frequented by angels. But I shall not weigh in and pile on at this, or any other time, when it is well and proper for me to do so. Unfortunately, Minister Rodrigues’ party’s mastery of political innuendo and the patented leadership smear now both come back at her like a boomerang in search of a neck. Generally speaking, political enmity runs rampant in this country, and it is salted with enough poisons and viciousness to take out all but the most resolute, those who possess the most pristine of personal records (and holdings). The minister should know what I mean, and take it from there. In other words, my advice to her is this: once she knows her conduct and business are above board, then she can rise to her fullest height and spit in the face of anyone who dares to challenge her. No high office is excluded. No great following and buzzing of the crowd matters. I have shared my thoughts. I stand apart from spreading madness. Over to Susan Rodrigues.