Admittedly this might interest only the older over-fifties, interested in past political scenarios and others still caring enough about the role of the police and our security.

Once, in New York the other day, when I wasn’t liming with the old PNC types, an old PPP stalwart reminded me that I had promised to do a retrospective biographical sketch titled “Whatever happened to Ranji Chandisingh” for this paper. I gave him an excuse and explanation involving my inabilities with computers and my general laziness.

The old PPP gentleman was, is obviously a fan of the Trinidad-born retired ideologue Chandisingh, who after being Cheddi Jagan’s socialist peer and partner for years, switched allegiance to become Burnham’s PNC general secretary. The PPP man was intent on explaining why he appreciated Chandisingh - “Comrade Ranji” despite the defection.

He claimed that Cheddi and Chandi disagreed somewhat on just how much support the PPP should extend to Forbes Burnham’s PNC which had been rigging itself into power continuously. After all Burnham had declared his party and himself “Socialist” and had defiantly recognised Cuba. Declaring that his old PPP liked to behave as if they had taken out “a patent on Socialism”, Chandisingh - and the younger Majeeds - duly crossed over into a Party actually in power. But my friend explained that, as a socialist himself, he knew that Chandisingh had intended to use all his ideological persuasion to “push Burnham” more, and more swiftly, towards the socialist path. Well perhaps it was beginning to work. If you checked our old constitution.

Incidentally, my old comrade informant, on the other hand, despised the other high-profile defector to the PNC, from those dogs, the younger Vincent Teekah who collided with his demise under still-mysterious circumstances. The old stalwart’s opinion was that Teekah was merely an opportunist who probably claimed to know more about the ideology than many of Burnham’s own young Turks of the time. He claimed that many PNC insiders were not sorry to see Teekah go.

And do you know how this conversation got started in the first place? I had merely commented that as a young man interested in the local politics, I had always assumed that the man, who battled in Parliament at Cheddi’s side for years in enforced opposition, would be his deputy - the loyal Reepu Daman Persaud. Nah, drawled the PPP oldster - “Reep liked playing lawyer, studied Parliament. But was a pandit in a socialist/communist outfit.”

What do you make of all that?

Old Politics, Today...

On to a slightly different level and tenor, I must mention my feelings aroused when listening to opposition leader Corbin at his press conference last week.

I hear that some handbill with certain accusations against RHO was circulated earlier.

Then again, this past week-end was the PPP’s eleventh year in government and General Secretary Ramotar was rubbing it in a bit. All that was enough reason and motivation for Comrade Corbin to visit the jail and to go on the “usual” old-time attack.

Oh, but his controlled vocal venom in accusing the PPP of arming people at Linden to terrorise his own supporters (?) there and the open accusation about which party or individuals benefits from narco-trafficking left me with my current disposition: The Type and Tenor of the politics being “waged” here offers little hope for the young, for the future. These days, I hardly discourage young people from leaving if they decide to do so, and that is so painful.

Whither our police?

Well when I saw one of my favourite police officers appearing - as a private and concerned citizen (?)- In front of the disciplined forces commission, I just knew that even the more vigorous oppositionists who knew or heard of our past politics, had to be impressed. Had to realise that there is now truly a significant measure of freedom - of speech and to “assemble” and “present”. Could Paul Slowe have even dared to consider that type of appearance in “the old days”? Score many points Civic. (Though the opposition would argue that you were made to constitute such a commission.)

Numerous proposals to re-create the police force have been flowing into the commission. Some good has to come out of these deliberations. After all, the eventual recommendations will have some parliamentary clout. Am I not right? So I can save my own suggestions for now. Just consider these two related snippets.

I hope I understand correctly that someone or some group has proposed Conscription to some force to get the right quality and the right balance. Wow! If accurate, all I can say to that is that it is so easy - if not to be misguided or mischievous - to make certain suggestions when out of office. Imagine. Conscripting people’s teenagers in this society, at this time!?

Even the issue of affirmative action in an effort to be “proportional” in recruitment towards “balancing” would be no guarantee. You have to have persons applying for entry first before “affirmative action” can be executed - try it for a year. My Indo-Guyanese younger brothers and sisters would render it eye- opening, I’m sure.

However, I was lamenting the granting of bail to certain accused linked with a recent arms find - “the law is the law with respect to pre-trial liberty, right?” - and offering my favourite strategy - besides crippling the sources - to lessen weapons in pouches, pockets and waists, when an officer just off the force enlightened me.

I am told that even if the force mounts either my announced - or surprise-raids on clubs, pageants, cinemas, dance sessions, thirst park shows, et al, it is not only the Human Rights Association or Bar Association protests that will be evoked.

My retired police officer tells me that some of the very entertainment spots - and other businesses - are protected by a few officers! They will be notified that their customers might be searched for (illegal) weapons. After all, even certain officers have to have meagre salaries supplemented (I refuse to believe this!)

Until...

(1) Was just re-reading Paul Nehru Tennassee’s account of his abduction once by the “dictatorship”.

He was helping Hammie Green to set one record straight. Forget that past? Let us be morally and spiritually revived? Re-born?

(2) I wrote a full page some months ago, about the PNC’s Positive Poultry Project. Next week I’ll inquisitively report on the Chickens from Buxton.

(3) Just as I thought solid evidence with respect to discrimination through the procurement/tender board process was being uncovered, a reasonable explanation was offered. Stay tuned.

`Til next week!