Dear Editor,
He will not sin his soul, neither will his conscience be sold to no one old or young. Low and behold, he will not be compromised, not by gold or by anyone from any fold. Often, the cold story does not hold by those barefaced, brazen and bold, because, the entire truth is not being told. As President of Guyana, the rule of law will mold Dr. Irfaan Ali’s commitment not to compromise his self-respect. Unlike others, he does not refuse to shake hands. Then again, he was never in a situation where he had to choose between his unmistakable loyalty to any principal or his unswerving loyalty to his principle, people and party. Coming from Leonora Sugar Estate, President Ali knows that you cannot blow whistle and suck cane at the same time!
Gold has been in the news even before the days of exploration and trading began. Gold was once used primarily as the commodity to back the dollar in a country but not necessarily so now. It is still sought after and the United States has some 8,100 metric tons of the commodity in reserve, more than Germany, Italy and France put together, worth some $190 billion and stored in Fort Knox. The popular James Bond movies “Goldfinger,” and “The Man with the Golden Gun” come to mind. Guyana’s gold reserves as at 2022 was US$35 Billion.
While “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and women’s best friend is diamonds, man’s best friend is a dog. James Bond also starred in “Diamonds Are Forever” but the sparkle of that stone does not outshine the demand for gold. A number of Guyanese have recently been sanctioned by the US Government, allegedly involved in the illegal export of gold to the United States and tax evasion from the Guyana Government. This is nothing new and for ages, much of Guyana’s gold has been shipped out without the country receiving royalty or taxes.
The Guyana Gold Board has reported that gold production declared has been reducing for the past years. The Ministry of Finance declared that there has been a constant decline since 2017. A contributing factor was blamed on low declarations made by small and medium scale miners. During the Budget 2024 presentation, Finance Minister Ashni Singh stated that, 2023 gold production fell to 432,113 ounces, a 11.2 percent contraction in the gold mining industry. Minister Singh also noted that diamond declarations were estimated to have fallen by 19.3 percent to 67,444 metric carats in 2023.
While many decorate their eyelid, nose, lip, ears, necks and fingers with golden ornaments, the ankles are also not left out. The display of this magnate is lucrative business for choke and robbers. The Pawn Shops have always been an integral part of society for quick financial relief. Gold is also hoarded and stored in different hiding places and attract thieves and burglars. Many have lost their lives and others traumatized or seriously injured during such daring escapades.
Aiming for gold has always been the sole criteria to motivate anyone, not only for the Olympics, but also for any athlete participating in any game and honoring the rules and regulations of sportsmanship. While the US has won most gold medals, Guyana has never won any. Guyana’s first Olympics medalist was Michael Anthony (Parris) when he won a Bronze medal at the 1980 Olympics held in Mosco, in the men’s bantamweight.
In the golden days of the oldies, cinema fans were treated to a number of gold heist movies including One-Eyed Jacks (1961), Goldfinger (1964), The Wrecking-Crew (1968), When Eight Bells Toll (1971) and The Train Robbers (1973). Of course, Ocean’s 11, although money and not gold was stolen, remains an all-time favorite in the same vein, the best being the original with George Clooney.
Gold is weighed for its financial worth, worn for its sentimental and religious values and has always been a source of wealth and power, the 24 carats being the highest and purest form of the metal. China is the largest buyer and consumer of gold with 1,948 tons reserve and in 6th place. India, placing 9th with its gold reserve of 658 tones, is the second largest consumer of gold in the world for all her various personal, cultural and traditional usages.
This precious metal also has the potential to having destructive and exploitive behaviour. In real life, the biggest gold heist has been the Brink’s Mat robbery in 1983 when 6 men posing as policemen robbed the security company and escaped with 3 tons of gold bullion, diamonds and currency worth 26 million pounds sterling (today’s worth of over 155 million). 4 of the 6 robbers were never caught and the majority of the stolen gold was never recovered.
The Nazi Regime, led by Adolf Hitler during 1939 to 1945, was also involved in raiding and relieving other countries (Belgium and Netherlands), governments, companies and people of over 1,000 tons of gold worth $550 million (over 53 billion pounds 2024). India, once known as “The Jewel of the Crown,” has lost over $45 Trillion, due to Britain draining her Treasury and wealth from tax, trade and treasures during the period 1765-1938, according to renowned economist Utsa Patnaik. India wants to wage a diplomatic campaign to reclaim thousands of treasures, including the famous Koh-I-Noor diamond.
Many plunderers rushed to the shore of this country, then British Guiana, in search of the golden city of El Dorado, including Sir Walter Raleigh. In Guyana, gold is disguised and worn as silver in order to ship it overseas. Many were caught at the Cheddi Jagan airport in this scheme. Even at the police station, gold is switched for other metal when being returned. One Guyanese was relieved of 208 ounces of raw gold worth over $74 million during 2022-2023.
Gold made many rich in Guyana, especially after the horrible Jonestown massacre. During the reign of Burnham as President in December 1978, the PNC Government was accused of having links to the Cool Aid Cult, led by Jim Jones, who master minded the largest mass suicide in history, killing 913 people and 5 murdered, including 300 under the age of 17, US Congressman Leo Ryan and also 8 Guyanese. Speculation arose when Dr. Ptolemy Reid, then Deputy Prime Minister and Viola Burnham, the President’s wife, uplifted and brought out over US$1 million in gold, jewelry and currency to government headquarters in Georgetown.
Burnham wanted to have husk and corn but he had the reverse effect of the golden touch of Midas. On the contrary, President Ali is adorned with the Midas touch while the PNC is looking for what they cannot find, perhaps El Dorado, the City of Gold.
Yours respectively,
Jai Lall.