I scribbled this much in the manner of an addict-columnist just before it went to press. Apologies for less than my best today. I’ll be brief.

One spent one month away from the homeland just recently.

One would harbour a wild hope or dream that there would be just one or two fundamental changes - or significant success stories in the brief interregnum.

But no such luck. Things at the national level in my big, beautiful, beloved but blighted Guyana remained “normal”. Business as usual.

If you returned to Georgetown, after a few weeks absence, whether you were in St. Maarten, Manhattan - or Mars what would you find? Well, debates about the outcomes of Cancun, two teams now styled “high representatives”, the resumption of escalating and horrific crimes, bickering about Caricom leaders’ conduct, whether our rice and sugar industries can survive much longer, water woes and, of course, some furore over cricketer Sarwan’s “manners”, with respect to his non-participation in a deliberately-produced, ethnic-specific cricket match.

Whew! No wonder some folks don’t read newspapers and tend to isolate themselves from the mainstream and maelstrom of Guyanese day-to-day happenings.

I’m too fixed in my ways - or too committed - to be like that.

But, Frankly Speaking, it is becoming easier to understand why people withdraw from the mundane, the repetitive charges and counter-charges, the hopelessness.

After a few weeks what positives were discovered. You had to look hard.

The country was still in existence, plodding along, untouched by hurricanes, but subject to “normal” seawall breaches, proposals are flowing thick and fast on how to improve our disciplined forces, Water Street now offers a glimmer of hope as to what a clean, decent city thoroughfare should be, a city eyesore has become a food court and, of course, there were about twelve more pageants involving females - as well as the presence of Dave Martins and `Slingshot’ Drepaul. You all do the analyses, the cerebral commentaries.

I’ll still love this silly old land. `Cause I’m back to the normal, the usual.

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The police, the guns...

As long as I’m allowed to have breath - and a pen - I’ll keep at this. For the sake of our society: we have to get the guns off the streets, out of the pouches and pockets!

Next week I’ll offer my Police Commissioner and my Minister of Home Affairs my own suggestions in this regard. Most won’t be new or original but one or two would be unpopular but implementable. Enact new laws! Let the cops search people at parties, concerts, fetes and beer gardens.

Compromise privacy for life - is what I say.

Oh and congratulations to the police for finding the weapons by Agricola and for locking up their own from the Wales Police Station.

I say there is hope for the police. But let’s see how the cases unfold in the courts. Please, the best prosecutors, please.

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Ryhaan Shah...

This is my own secret I don’t often share, but two lady activists I read and listen to are ACDA’S Violet Jean-Baptiste and GHIA’S Ryhaan Shah.

And I confess that, whilst not actually endorsing or supporting some of Shah’s positions on particular issues, I love her articulation, her controlled vitriol. I’m moved to quote two excerpts from her offerings this week.

“With regard to the more comic turns of phrase made by Ramson - `silken sultanas, etc. - we will leave them alone so as to preserve whatever shred of dignity this former Attorney General still retains.”

“What has been missing from Guyana’s landscape for four decades and counting are leaders who stand for the good things in life; principled behaviour, good conduct, honesty, integrity and decency. This lack of good standards has created Rodrigues and thousands like him. Hence, there will always be ready support for Rodrigues’ kind of thinking and behaviour.

There are some among us, however, who wish to turn this situation around for the better but it is a gargantuan task. The very victimisation that Rodrigues speaks of - of buying silence is used to keep flocks loyal to the PPP, and courage in a situation where cowardice is rewarded is not easy to come by.”

Disagree with her views all you want.

It doesn’t mean that that is not good, strong, courageous writing - flowing from her own analyses. From a lady who knows she probably can’t erode anybody’s political support.

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Some moralising...

Written some eight years ago, I repeat these words: “One doesn’t wish to be another `moralist’, but one is stuck by the numerous negative characteristics and tendencies among young and old.

Spawned by a sub-culture of bribery, corruption, deceit, graft and “runnings” which threatened to pervade our society recently, this state of affairs results in scant regard for law and order.

Since some laws, a few years ago, made virtual criminals of most of us, too many `adapted’ and broke laws with gay abandon. Young Guyanese easily became both perpetrator and victim. The role models they witnessed, whether parents or community leaders were negative, be they senior public officers or drug-barons. Every aspect of life was a hustle.

Even as some self-righteous, moral “high-grounders” now hasten to redefine decency, the youth see contradictions in how famous international would-be role-models are treated. Ben Johnson, Mike Tyson, accused murderers and Pakistani Cricket Stars are allowed all the representation their money and status could afford.

Even if and when convicted, cries are heard in mitigation and explanation: “Give-them-a-chance; everybody-does-it,” is the sentiment often expressed.

“Consumer protection not part of our heritage”, wrote the letter-writer to this paper.

He was alluding to the lack of tradition here, in terms of fair-play for consumers - from the government public service, the municipality, street vendors, business-places, technicians, et al.

We are continuously ripped-off with impunity. No law is really regarded.

It seems that we are doomed to be the life-long beneficiaries of unlawful practices.

You see, for too long the supposed guardians of the society have themselves buckled and succumbed to lawlessness.

Don’t doubt me! The churchgoer, the shirt-jacketed bureaucrat and the police officer have all sinned. What’s the solution? I hardly know. What about me? I have sinned and am guilty too! Can you help?

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Until...

1) Take heart! Our rum is still the best and our sports-people are still defying all odds.

2) Homework: Assess the successes of both government and opposition over the past eleven years. Submit on Monday as the PPP/C celebrates.

3) Don’t miss the Guyana Cook-up show on Friday and Saturday mornings - CNS Channel 6,

`Til next week!