-and, `locking up’ their own
Frankly Speaking
Believe me, these are simple – sometimes simplistic – thoughts on the issues, the implications and the contradictions, inherent in the titles mentioned in the main caption above.
And you can expect my “treatment” not to be seriously analytical and/or scientific as others would ensure they are addressed. For example, take my own “race.” My mother was Madrassi “Indian” descended. My father was supposed to be African/Scottish admixture, born here. I can be regarded, variously, as “Indian,” “coolie,” “douglah/mixed,” Black (?). You see the dilemma? The levity? If the ethnic groups can accommodate race, or variations of race, I suppose I can find a niche. You see, my own conclusion is that if I’m to be labelled, I’ll be a “Blackminded Indian.” But who or what the heck is that?
I’m avoiding the scientific definitions, because I wish to make a simple, hopefully profound point: that no matter how proud you are of your “race” and to belong to your particular ‘tribe”, however your mind is inclined you may follow it and transcend the borders and restrictions of any one group. From adulthood, I’ve managed to put “race” second or third, even while being quite conscious of it. Frankly speaking, my own unfortunate extreme in this regard, is that I know much too few things “Indian”. And my life’s partners have been of one group exclusively. (The fellows still pity me.)
What’s my point? That you can be conscious even proud of your racial group and background and not be limited to it in terms of arrogant ethnocentricity – or by racist behaviours. I like myself for that and appeal to young Guyanese to work at achieving that outlook and status.
Religion in the politics
I’ve shifted from the personal “my” here, because I’m hardly religious and not as political as I once certainly was.
Personal deficiencies have not allowed me to understand or embrace the basic foundations of the Christianity I was exposed to as a youth. And I didn’t make full use of the assistance offered in this regard in later life. (I have a problem with Christianity’s source Book.) and oh, the contradictions!
The Pope blesses, or blessed, weapons of mass destruction before war. Priests offer prayers for their countries’ soldiers (going to defend their nation’s security and integrity.) Islamic leaders intimate that it is acceptable to go to war in the name of God/Allah, Jihads, crusades, Holy Wars abound as human life is expended. I will hold on before embracing those faiths.
The folk proverb advises “Dey near to de church but far from God’. I won’t explore this in-depth again, but would direct your attention to how the religious, seem to accommodate the Party and its politics.
The Party members oftimes claim to be ardent Christians, Hindus, Muslims, or at the minimum, to be “religious” and “Believers in God”. The Party leaders also attend religious places and ceremonies, ask for God’s guidance, to be accommodated, in turn, by the religious leaders who usually also ask God to bless and guide the politicians’ actions and behaviour.
But “God doan wear pyjama.” He doesn’t sleep and is awake to see through contradictions and hypocrisy! Among both church and party leaders and followers. Both levels of political people abandon the tenets of their faiths and indulge in discrimination, racism, corruption and all lust for position – and power. Immorality abounds among both the religious and party “faithful”. (At least, I don’t ever hold myself out as “leader” (or example, knowing my frailties and mis-behaviours.)
Perhaps sub-consciously, my assessment of the behaviour of religious people in their political parties is that they are making a mockery of the religious advice given to them by their Creator and most of his genuine teachers. These days, it is one reason why I do not take the politicians and the religious types seriously. Do you? I am even approaching the stage where I have second thoughts about voting.
Locking up their own
We are suitably outraged when rogue policemen, crooked cops use their professionalism to break the law and to commit wanton crime.
But I get a queer thrill of redemptive hope when I read of their (still-honest) colleagues arresting, investigating and charging the official wrong doers. How noble, correct and professional! I often wonder how the arresting officers must feel locking up their own – their partners, colleagues, squaddies? The still good cops certainly give us hope that all is not lost. Until we hear of the next police crime.
This is what I wrote on the issue seven years ago:
“Many years ago a former Commissioner of Police, the late Lloyd Barker, had to remind the then numerous critics of the Police Force that his ranks, especially the lower-level constables, were drawn from the same imperfect society that we all lived in.
He asked an impatient and dissatisfied public to appreciate that he had to recruit from the same challenged communities, and from the graduates of the same under managed educational system that most of the population was subject, or victims to at that time. In other words, he was directing people’s attention to the fact that the bulk of his force was reflective of the wider society that they were all members of – replete with its deficiencies in standards of excellence, its deteriorating morals, etcetera.
So the reality was then; so it is today. The members of the Guyana Police Force are a reflection, a microcosm of what Guyana produces in 2003.
Another former Commissioner, Laurie Leyland Lewis, publicity challenged all or any other government agencies to prove that they penalised their errant members or employees more often or consistently than the Police Force did. The cynical response to that could have been that he could prove that boast because his Force probably “boasted” many more wrongdoers than other national institutions. But that would, or does not negate the fact that the Guyana Police Force is never hesitant to punish or expel from its ranks, those policemen who themselves break laws in various ways. Unfortunately, this is the position right now.
Over the past five months many ranks, primarily constables and lance-corporals, have been either disciplined departmentally, placed before the courts or dismissed because of the variety of transgressions committed. After following procedures, instituting hearings and reacting to the findings of Courts of Law, the Force has been fair but firm with its errant members who should have been themselves exemplary in upholding or enforcing the laws of the land.
A sampling of the offences committed by members of the Force recently would indicate: simple larceny, providing false information with intent to cause a public officer to use his lawful power to the injury of another person, corrupt transaction with an agent, obtaining by false pretence, unlawful wounding, unlawful possession of arms and ammunition, possession of narcotics, forgery, robbery with violence, throwing corrosive substance and rape. It is therefore easy to appreciate that, across all the Divisions of the Force, ranks have been charged with the very crimes they have to investigate and/or charge members of the public for. We indicated earlier in this piece, why this unfortunate circumstance is so.”
But, no example?
There could be one flip side to the issue of crooked cops however. Tuesday’s edition of Stabroek News (September 1) beat me to what I am to comment upon hereunder – in its editorial and in a letter by a “regular.”
In a Guyana world of changed values, not many recruits to the force would have the virtuous moral of honesty being the ”best policy” and other forms of righteousness. The recruit joined the Force knowing of the hard work and the inadequate salary. Some joined to be honest and ambitious. Others joined for the subsequent “runnings” and hustle they know the GPF could offer.
People are saying too that these young policemen might not have the best role models within or without the Force. The youngsters know naughty things about their superiors, about politicians and businessmen. They see and experience crookedness and corruption throughout this sorry society. They are often approached and they don’t have or need the old time values to sustain their integrity. Oh, it is easy to become a crooked Guyanese. We should not be surprised. Let’s embraced those who remain genuine.
Ponder…
1) In Trinidad, policemen attached to their elite crime-fighting unit in the South, were held after stealing $96,000.
2) Anything yet on that government building being constructed, snail-turtle-like, at High and Princes streets in Georgetown?
3) Who is an “Amerindian” these days?
‘Til next week!
Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com
