Cocaine gave them a start (2)
Frankly Speaking...
By A.A. Fenty
Stabroek News
November 21, 2003
Earlier this year I had related three tales [ please note: link provided by LOSP web site ], supposedly fictional, hypothetical, which were intended to illustrate how persons benefited financially from the spoils the narco-trade provide.
In a word, cocaine gave them a "start" after deliberate or accidental dealings resulting in the profitable funding of careers and sometimes lifelong wealth and comfort. Then I painted brief pictures of how our society, at all levels now, tends to accept the success of those people who use a deadly drug and a nefarious and insidious trade to become "somebody's". It's the changing morality that intrigues me as much as the actual prosecution of the evil.
Responding to persuasion, I now pen three similar accounts - mostly creatively fictional which depict the role of cocaine trafficking in some people's "success" and "standing" in society.
However "fictional" I hope they gave insights into the likely scenarios that create one category of our nouveau riche. The new wealthy members of our society which many admire but whom I condemn because of my poor but honest upbringing and my hope to know still, right from wrong.
The first tale is one of the lawman who succumbed to corruption in the force, then used some of his "takings" to study law. He became a criminal lawyer. His previous insider-knowledge as a cop stood him in great stead. He defended many drugs accused very well, no longer having to care about how and where his clients' money for fees came from. Our soon successful attorney joined certain organisations that "do good" for impoverished communities. How easy it was, it is, to gain poor people's gratitude even adulation. Do you know a lawyer like my man? Do you dare link him to the spoils of coke?
My second story today concerns a humble logger his parents were actually cash-crop farmers who ultimately, began to export pineapples, watermelons and cucumbers to three Caribbean markets.
Watching them then, harvesting, crating, going through the agriculture ministry and customs procedures, the son soon started to develop ideas, crystallised from motion pictures he had seen and the new developments locally with respect to marijuana and coke being sent out of Guyana.
Our "little logger" used to supply logs from the Demerara to a middleman who contracted shippers to export lumber, rice, sand, and even fresh fish to all parts of the world. Soon the broker suggested to the logger how to secrete illegal substances in his logs - for significant fees.
The logging business was "slow" so our little logger co-operated. His logs became special. He flourished. Dif-ferent shipping companies knew nothing of the precious logs they shipped. Our man recalling his parents export acumen, in time took hold of all the stages of his export "business" wealth, standing and "respect" followed. You probably see evidence of his wealth all round Demerara. The only catch is that our success was shot dead a few months ago. He had failed to pay his supplier, as agreed.
Thirdly, the trade which wrecks lives of the young and ravages both the poor from other countries ghettoes and the children of "better offs" gave "a great start to a now successful" promoter who once was in a position to send an entire team to prestigious games.
This versatile aggressive guy grew up in his island society feeling poverty and seeing need, need, need, all around him. But after primary school he did get on his island's volleyball team. That was the exposure he craved. He gained some prominence in his relative poverty but of course that was just an opening. Sporting contacts suggested that they bring a circus to the island. They made a killing. Then our man got an idea when the circus down was caught with coke before the circus left. In no time our man was hosting and promoting visiting basketball teams, international judokas then world famous pop bands. A promoter/entrepreneur par excellence! The islanders sometimes wondered how the promoter coped when some costly shows flopped. But our man never seemed worried, business still prospered. Some bold barefaced envious rivals spoke of "laundries" and "cleaners". Me? I leave the rest to you all.
Notice the diverse players in the arena of drugs trafficking. Their success is obvious. Even if fraught with danger and death. Is honesty still the best policy when poverty wants any way out?
And when morals and morality apart, economists fear for our economy? Without coke? Oh dear me!
Fires and permanent dependence?
Everyone has had his or her say about Georgetown's latest costly conflagration. Why should I add to the obvious. However they try, spokespersons for our Fire Service know much better could have been done last week-end. I say or write no more.
But on a related issue let me direct your attention to those burnt-out sites all round Guyana's capital, George-town. I'm proud of the proprietors of businesses on Regent Street, Georgetown and Pitt Street, New Amster-dam. At least they have begun to rebuild and re-establish commercial areas which "fuel" employment and commerce. With the assistance of their insurance companies. And government!
However, some real eyesores of abandoned burnt-out areas abound in Georgetown; where the Park Hotel was on Main Street, just next door at Bentinck and Water Street where Gajraj stood; at High and Robb and Camp and Regent, to name just a few. Is it that the owners of these properties really can't afford to rebuild? Or are they just speculating?
Sometimes I wish government could "acquire" these unused pieces of real estate for the public good. Even as I dream of huge malls or educational facilities rising up.
I must be dreaming...
Consider too our state of seemingly permanent dependence, consequent upon our "under development". We have to send our people overseas for certain medical attention, DNA testing, the aircraft recorder, police forensic investigations, scholarships in certain fields for aid and trade. Independent Guyana?
Until...
1) Beautiful programme two Sundays ago. Channel Nine's spotlight on regularising herbalists and alternative medicine.
2) I must discuss Cde Corbin's thoughts on the electoral roll. What electoral register?
3) Name five ways to get guns out of specific communities.
`Til next week!