Bartica boys, backdams and banks

Did Rasul ever hear or read about Raleigh? What am I really asking? Okay, I’m wondering whether the Bartica fellow accused of suspicious multi-million “gold” transactions knows anything at all about the English Explorer Sir Walter Raleigh who came to the early Guiana in the late fourteenth century searching frantically for a City of Gold – Manoa del Dorado or El Dorado.

The European explorers never really found anywhere – between Colombia and Guiana – where gold reportedly lined the streets for the taking.

However we know that that metal, which was somehow made to be precious, costly and forever soughtafter, by mankind, has been buried in our Guiana land and water for centuries. Today it remains one of our primary money-earning products for export. And as elsewhere on the planet where it lies, gold attracts lust, greed, conflict, crime, corruption and – in the pits and criminal – enterprise – backrooms – even death by murder when the most greedy become the most extreme.

So where am I heading with all the foregoing? Just background to iterate the consequences of the cancerous climate of greed selfishness and corruption which characterizes our Guyana at varying levels, cutting across race, religion, culture and class.

The revelations around the alleged multi-million mischief suspected to be operationalized by Gold Dealer Rasul seem to suggest collusion amongst many-from Gold Board to Banks. Suspicion and speculation – as well as evidentiary facts – surround prominent professionals classes above the more “working-class” petty thieves. The small man calls them qualified, even favoured, “big ones”. But if ever found guilty of million-dollar wrongdoings what are they really?

No wonder one of the President’s more favoured Ministers, Trotman, is now promising to “scrutinize” top level public servants. Huh? The Black Gold in the water – oil/gas – already has the greedy scheming I’ll bet. President Granger has been on record early up-front, planning to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund based hopefully, on some appropriate model. That is meant to ensure that earnings the State-Exxon Mobil Agreement guarantees Guyana, do redound to the benefit of the people.

But in the run-up to actual production could you imagine the multiplicity of schemes being considered by crooks to benefit themselves only? Consider that as you hear the assurances of the government’s economic managers. We all must expect interesting times ahead. Even as the more honest and enterprising business people amongst us in these challenging times are busy preparing for the Americans and others who will be here. Man! I’m hearing about new or expanded hotels, catering, on-shore technical services; even helicopter pads!

Cynical as the years have made me in this my land, I’m not holding my breath concerning the conviction of the accused or recovery of millions in taxes allegedly siphoned off from the State with respect to the Bartica Bobby Rasul scandal.

As I’ve written, on a personal level, I know not, or would be guilty never, of stealing money. But my Q.C. friend made me gasp! If it could ever be proven in a Court of Law that Mr Rasul did extensive laundering whereby the State lost $100M in taxes, between say, September to November last year alone, could it be proven how many more billions were probably involved over the recent years?

Ouch! My little honest mind can’t even accommodate those figures. Did not the “Gold authorities” and the “old” GRA know of the billions being denied poor Guyanese? Mind-boggling!

These fellows at and from Bartica – one of President Granger’s most favourite places – include young professionals, medium-level investors in the gold industry, employees of the bigger “gold companies” even porkknockers contemplating Minister Broomes’ “syndicates” intended to organize the smaller miners.

Arising out of the current Bobby Rasul issue the knowledgeable boys of Bartica have a plethora of insightful analyses, history along with terse, strongly – felt convictions. I choose now just to excerpt a few remarks heard.

“Boy, it took a Bartician (Rasul) to bring down a Bartician banker” (John Tracey) (This is speculation that Mr Tracey’s leave is corrected to the perceived failings of the Bartica GBTI bank.)

“Believe it or not, Rasul is a small player in a larger almost unbelievable network Fenty. You believe he alone could pull off those alleged transactions? Without the active daily knowledge of big handlers?”

“Fenty, find out whatever happen to that boat laden with gold from Suriname or Guyana which was held up in Curacao with Guyanese crewmen.” (Oh yes. I Fenty wonder: Do the American authorities know?)

“What use to happen in Bartica is that fellas with primary school education had to manage million-dollar mining enterprises and all that those entities demanded. Those poor fellows were vulnerable to the Brighter Boys and the Barons.”

I leave readers to re-read the above comments (actually spoken) and then reflect and analyse. Poor Guyana.

1) I know of some Mayors who administer our towns who draw a pittance, with few benefits. Ministers are equally important but enjoy tremendous rewards. What? They superintend the nation??

2) Whenever I hear of hundreds of Afro-Guyanese young men killed during the Jagdeo years I wonder: who came up with those figures?

3) When the PPP objected strenuously to the role of the British Advisor recently, was it because of our national integrity? Or…

4) What’s this? Mr Jagdeo knows of current Ministerial “connections” relevant to the Bartica Rasul scandal?

5) What’s this? Despite a sterling push in the U.K. likely to attract investments, my President wore a tie there?

6) Hail a legal adviser – Leslyn Noble! The lady is also described as “a certified anti-money laundering and financial crimes-prevention professional”. Brains and Beauty combined. I must find out more about this attorney.

7) A new Vendors Mall is still to take shape and life at the Old Co-op Bank site in Stabroek.

’Til next week! (allanafenty@yahoo.com)