Dear Editor,
Having read and assimilated the issues raised in Abu Bakr’s letter in Stabroek News of 28.6.08 ‘While the PPP/IAC is carrying the Sunday cartoon issue too far we must nevertheless make sure our jokes do not cross the line’), I wish to allude to point # 3, line 1 where he mentioned “The IAC (and PPP) should expect…”
Basic English lessons have taught that the use of the word ‘and’ indicates that there are two or more separate subjects being addressed, in this case, the IAC and the PPP. While I cannot speak for Mr Bakr, his letter mentioned above can only be interpreted as him clearly distinguishing the IAC from the PPP, hence the use of the parentheses as it appeared in point # 3 mentioned.
The use of “PPP/IAC” in the caption suggests that the two organisations are one and the same. This is contrary to what Mr Bakr had written, assuming that the caption did originate from his pen.
I raise this since it is my understanding that letters are generally captioned by the editors. For clarity, I would suggest that the Stabroek News reveal if the caption was theirs or Bakr’s. If it was Bakr’s, then he has clearly contradicted himself. If it was the Stabroek News, then obviously a different connotation has been imposed.
This connotation, which has political implications, is effectively more impressionable since it appeared in the caption, as opposed to Bakr’s, which appeared after three paragraphs.
Just for the record, the IAC like any organisation comprises of members of different political persuasions. It should be noted that an executive member of the IAC was once a PNC member of Parliament. Another executive member hails from an Indo-Guyanese family in Essequibo which has strong PNC roots and includes a sitting PNCR-1G Member of Parliament.
I wish to reiterate that the IAC is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which was formed by UG students in late 2002 and registered in 2003. The organisation promotes Indian culture and deals with issues and concerns of persons of Indo-Guyanese origin, regardless of their political and religious backgrounds.
Yours faithfully,
Doodnauth Danny
IAC Executive Member
Editor’s note
The caption appended by Stabroek News is an abbreviated version of the first sentence of Mr Bakr’s final paragraph, viz:
“While the PPP/IAC is taking the matter too far and too seriously, it is time that we start making sure that our jokes don’t cross the line, don’t spring from real racial hatred and prejudice and don’t offend.”
