Opinion

By Dr Randy Persaud, Professor Emeritus, American University, Washington D.C. Some folks live all their lives singing the same old songs, reciting the same old mantras, telling the same old stories. No worries there, because continuity is central to one’s sense of direction, purpose, of self. But while we may understand the cultural coordinates of our groundings, the same cannot ...

by GHK Lall From Free and Easy in Essequibo Coast, Region Two and SN’s Cost-of-Living serial, episode 93, a Guyanese name Hubert Sukhai spoke hauntingly and painfully. It was about what is not so easy, but exemplary in difficulty, as faced in the circumstances being endured by his family. The plight of his family of more than ten is that ...

By GHK Lall St. Vincent and Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, is getting a little too intimate with what is good for Guyana. According to PM Gonsalves, Nicolás Maduro Moros at the helm in Venezuela is the best that could be for Guyana (“Maduro, as Venezuela’s President, is in Guyana’s interest – St Vincent’s PM Gonsalves” – Demerara Waves ...

by GHK Lall I have always said and believed that it is how leaders react under the pressure of the moment that defines them. How leaders who hold themselves as the best thing since Solomon respond when backed into a corner, or are drawn out into a calculated exchange, or are compelled to deal with the facts at hand is ...

By Dr. Randy Persaud, Professor Emeritus I read with interest Stabroek News’ recent editorial under the title “The need for deeper dialogue on the economy” (9/9/2024). The core idea of the editorial is that multilateral financial institutions ought to meet with civil society organizations and the Opposition during the loan consultation process. This is an inherently good idea. Yet, by all ...

by GHK Lall With the permission of SN’s editorial team, I am writing to preempt its weekly Cost-of-Living series that comes out on Mondays. The objective is not to steal a march on SN, but to register what is anticipated as the grim cost-of-living (food) reality of Guyanese in another place visited and another 10 Guyanese sharing their pain felt ...

By Dr. Randy Persaud. Professor Emeritus It is astounding that the same people who call for magnanimity are the very ones who make a living by pushing poison pills into the public sphere on a daily basis. GHK Lall’s “Oil has embittered and divided Guyana even more” (KN, Sept. 2, 2024) readily comes to mind. Allow me to respond to ...

by GHK Lall It was first US$176 million, then almost US$200 million, and now, pursuant to a CANU release has settled at 176 million euros. The euros translate to almost US$195 million, which in using the CANU number makes this GY$39 billion in one fell swoop. I am speaking of the record-breaking drug bust in the Matthews Ridge area of ...

By GHK Lall I keep it simple in this chat about democracy versus autocracy in Guyana. I agree and disagree with the erudite Dr. Bertrand Ramcharran. I mostly disagree with those who disagree with him. First, some poor man’s definitions would help. Democracy is government by those with the greater numbers, a system where high ideals once resonated. Autocracy is ...

By Dr. Randy Persaud, Professor Emeritus, SIS, American University, Washington, DC In 2016 I published a research article under the title “Neo-Gramscian Theory and Third World Violence: A Time for Broadening” in the journal Globalizations (Vol. 13, No. 5). The aim of the article was to provide an overview and critique of Neo-Gramscian political economy and international theory. This was ...