When Georgetown becomes Guyana?
Frankly Speaking...........
Hello there my fans and foes. Allow me to admit, to concede, to confess that it all gets to me in this God-forsaken land. What gets to me? And, I suppose, to you? Well, included would be the hypocrisy of certain leaders and workers' representatives; the lies, deceit and mis-information being peddled daily by 'TV personalities'; the refusal to acknowledge any positive achievements - including the best salary increases ever - recorded by this government since 1992; the illegal terrorist tactics of the strikers and their more political supporters; and yes, the initial unimaginative, even provocative, offer by the government which precipitated the destabilisation. One does feel overburdened by it all, if one feels for one's country of birth. I'm patriotic to the bone but when I experience the behaviour of certain 'leaders', I'm hard put to influence or encourage young Guyanese to remain here. But what about my Georgetown/Guyana caption above? Well, the aggressive intimidation and blockades of work-places by the strikers evoked a few thoughts in my mind this week. Firstly, it is obvious that any capital - even this dirty, disorderly town - if it is the seat of government, the administrative and commercial hub of the country, will be the focal point, or target, of any group wishing to advocate, to make points, pleas or protests, to impress or disrupt. Secondly, politicians like to remind us that 'Georgetown is not Guyana'. But, in one sense, when strikers or saboteurs, can blockade wharves, government buildings, municipal locations, medical facilities, public utilities and commercial business places; when unions can close down critical productive/administrative units located in Georgetown, and so cripple national life, Georgetown, the official heart of the country, can well be considered (much of ) 'Guyana'. Thirdly, some large countries boast various capitals - administrative, commercial and cultural. Recall Forbes Burnham suggesting that the capital be removed to the North-West District? (You never knew when Forbes was being serious sometimes). No wonder when the PNC protesters terrorised the capital city in the past, some folks thought of creating other 'self-contained' towns - if not a capital-hurriedly. You need official ports-of-entry, land for commercial development, administrative facilities and all the trappings of communication, government and security technology that a modern town necessitates. This is not to suggest that protesters and terrorists cannot be imported or transported to wherever new towns are. But I have to admit that I sometimes yearn for the peace and relative lack of stress in Anna Regina, Rose Hall, Linden, Port Mourant, Vreed-en-hoop or New Amsterdam. What think you? Two parallel presidents now I have written in the past about the long reach of the GPSU, into vital locations of the government and the economy. In print too, I've also saluted the artful management of Patrick Yarde. Now the fellow is president of both the GPSU and the TUC. All Power to Perky Patrick! (PPP!) So Desmond could relax backstage temporarily, until whenever the strike ends. With the laid-back style of President Janet - who serenely allows others to indulge in all the busing and the vulgarity - President Yarde now claims centre-stage, crippling Georgetown with great urban support. That's why I state, half-seriously, that we have the presence of two parallel presidents at this stage: Desmond Hoyte, who like Forbes Burnham, was born right here. And Patrick Yarde, who like Janet Jagan was not born here. Man, you can't stop Guyana! Discrediting police and people Politicians and supportive media say and do things to render the police powerless in the face of hostilities. No wonder a few police, feeling the humiliation visited upon them on the streets from time to time, react excessively, from time to time. As I implied last week, some politicians know just how and when to court, support or denigrate the police. Wickedly, they are masters at discrediting. Police and persons abused since December 1997: (Just a few) Doodnauth Singh, Laurie Lewis, Justice Cross of Trinidad, Jimmy Carter (again), Paul Slowe, Stanley Singh, Gordon Gilhuys, Yesu Persaud, Tony Cozier, the entire government cabinet, Stabroek News editors, etc., etc. My lord! Two Stabroek perspectives And (2): "The record shows, we believe, that the GPSU wanted, from the outset, to have a normal and proper relationship with this government and it was a serious political miscalculation not to have responded energetically and positively to this. It is one of the opportunities the government missed, due primarily to the inadequacies of senior government personnel and the lack of effective governance." No comment necessary. Another Friday passes... 2) Hang dem high! And during the 1985 elections campaign Desmond Hoyte, as president, did just that! Trinidad bit the bullet. Why don't we? Because Mr Mc Cormack and the Trinidadian runs acknowledge even the most vicious murderers as `children of God' too? (HDH: Hang Dem High!) 3) If both a man and woman premeditate and execute a murder beyond all doubt and are both convicted, why is it only the man is executed. 4) He claimed to know that the police do not burn all the marijuana or cocaine. 5) Did Gandhi and King target poor people's public hospitals as part of their passive resistance? Or is ours civil disobedience to the max? 6) Yes, there is a silent majority - outside of Georgetown. 7) When is a national monument truly national? 8) Coming after the strike: Deep inside the TUC. 9) Coming next week: Inside Local Cricket - the Chanderpaul story and Donkey Urine on the wicket! 10) Can I get married during the strike? `till next week!!
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