Dear Editor,
New contributors have raised serious and probing questions about aspects of the drug scourge that appear to be missing from my writings. I stand to be corrected, but I do not believe that much-if anything-is missing.
A not all inclusive list of areas previously covered would include: local accounting that does not add up; the contamination of local institutions; the convenience of porous borders; political patronage and protectionism; crime fighting outsourcing and its price; the overall costs and grave dangers to Guyana; the machinery of washing and shipping; the demand side, including both the colour and percentage of users versus the same for those incarcerated; and the pseudo drug wars and their limitations.
In fact, I believe that I have written more about this subject than any other, with the possible exception of the race-politics-conflict linkage. Moreover, if memory serves me well, there are but a mere handful of areas in which I have not ventured, be they domestic or international. Examples would be: UG, Sacred Heart Rebuilding, and the Fidelity issue.
All of this has occurred over a span of ten years. On occasion, I refer to these earlier writings; on occasion I have been wrong, and absolutely so. However, my core positions have not changed, and are still relevant and, I dare say, of some significance in frank and principled discussions.
Currently, I have no interest in revisiting the archival, unless it is truly warranted. In addition, it is counterproductive to engage in “I told you so;” and to continually correct the record. It is more appropriate to observe the subtleties and nuanced postures-whenever they occur-underlying present discourse, and to weigh in from time to time. I prefer to appreciate the space and opportunity to keep moving forward and taking a stand. The issue could be Iran or the Jewish Lobby; Wall Street excesses and American decline; or, of course, the local landscape in all of its political, racial, social, criminal, and commercial glory.
I close by saying that many of the stands taken do-and will not-endear-me to my fellow patriots of one persuasion or another. Given our history, and orientation, this is not unexpected. The challenge is for those who are capable of thinking to do so, do so steadfastly, and do so unfettered by the shackles of race, or class, or ideology. Or dollars. It is a lonely place, but it is not exchangeable or negotiable.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
