Robin Singh’s response to GHK Lall

Dear Editor,

It comes as no surprise that GHK Lall had to be informed of my missive condemning his attempt at ‘spin’ by a taxi driver; based on the lack of fact or research present in his writings, I have long concluded he is a ‘gaff man’ not a writer given to research and accuracy. I will concede that GHK writes with style, however, that should be accompanied by responsibility. GHK Lall gets his information from the common man and seeks to translate the same through his esoteric musings; these are the ‘opinion’ pages after all. I will admit to misreading the ball bowled, it would seem it was not ‘spin’ but an attempt at ‘reverse-swing’ delivered at too slow a pace.
I am pleased to see the affirmation from GHK that he condemns Volda Lawrence for her coded call for intimidation of voters and interference with the electoral process. I am also pleased that GHK has come out of the closet and declared himself “an acknowledged coalition supporter”, it was obvious to all despite the protestations over the years and claims of belonging to the team of independent arbiters. GHK should now (at this late date) consider resigning the Chairmanship of the Guyana Gold Board given that his bias as an APNU supporter clouds his judgment in a position he holds that has regulatory oversight for Guyanese of all political persuasions.

GHK speaks eloquently about comprehension and values, I would ask if he possesses either to a high degree, how he can openly support a regime that openly ignored clear provisions of the Constitution, in what has been described by the United States as “actions by Guyana that may undermine democratic principles, including apparent misapplication of the Guyanese constitution and certain court rulings’ or is it that GHK is weak in mathematics? For the large-scale sell-off of our Gold reserves under his tenure for a USD 1150- 1363 per ounce was foolhardy and premature; today’s Gold price is USD 1579.50 per ounce. GHK Lall advised on the sale of over two and a half million ounces of Gold that would be worth USD216.50 more than the peak price received, a loss to our nation totaling well over USD 500 Million. Wall Street must be celebrating the loss of this ‘analyst’.

Editor, to reply to the esoteric, GHK speaks of advising the firing of Ministers, surely he did not expect the President to do so without presenting facts. GHK should have presented Granger with facts about the oil giveaway by his subject Minister Raphael Trotman, if Global Witness could calculate USD 55 Billion in losses, I am sure a Wall Street whiz could do something similar. Lall should have used his self-appraised moral authority to speak about his former subject Minister Broomes giving herself and friends mining land under the guise of syndicates; to urge the release of the Exxon PSA Bridging Deeds; for release of the contract for the sale of Oil by/to Shell Western. GHK would well know that these are issues being discussed by taxi drivers, vendors and all other Guyanese, but Lall may well be suffering from the muzzle made famous by Martin Carter.

I would stand by my original interpretation that GHK Lall has attempted to deflect and provide succor to Volda Lawrence for her odious call for a ‘nightshift’. GHK now talks about “the law of unintended consequences” of Bar-B-Q and alcohol at or around polling stations. I would posit that Volda Lawrence knew exactly what actions and consequences could/would flow from her call and it is GHK who seems to be unable to comprehend what for all others, needs no gloss and is understandably upset that his trademark delivery has been hit for six.

Respectfully,
Robin Singh