Perhaps ironically, it was a New Amsterdam-based Muslim gentleman, now deceased, who gave me the proverb in the caption. The slight irony will be explained in a later paragraph.
I won’t go on about the syndrome and virtual tragedy of “single-parent mothers” in Guyana today. For to me that’s one of the root causes of male juvenile delinquency which evolves into our current scourge of adult male banditry. Of course we all should be aware of the other contributory factors to the production of so many male offenders: violence on television, absentee fathers, unemployment, dropping out from the education system; the get-rich-without-working syndrome bolstered by the material success of drug barons and even corrupt, officials – and so on.
But it is the role of the mothers – married, connected, “attached” or not – on which I offer brief views and comment.
Frankly Speaking, deficient parenting – skills, changed moral values and stark economic need, all combine to persuade too many mothers to support and defend whatever foul deeds their errant, sometimes recidivist sons commit. “A mother is a clean sheet for a dirty bed” indeed. “Blood is thicker than water” and “family cutlass doan cut deep”. Whilst we can appreciate these sentiments holding families together and promoting the loyalty and kinship of the clan, certain mothers have to understand just how the stubborn condoning of wrong –doing and criminal activity results in much worse. For their sons and themselves.
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“`E was a loving chile…”
It seems no single-parent village mom would agree, concede that her son was at least criminal in intent. Except on a few occasions. Even in the face of stark, obvious evidence and witnesses to their sons’ crimes, the loyal mothers always intone: “E was (or is) a quiet, loving chile. E En got no story wid nobady”. Or “all de cases against e did dismiss” as if that latter was (is) no basis to be even concerned about the (loving) son’s activities.
Can’t they not see that their blind loyalty, defence and support inspire their guilty sons to continue anti-social ways, leading sometimes to their sons’ demise?
Two recent examples of the loyal –mother–loving-son syndrome caught my eye. The first was the mother or aunt of the second Plaisance suspect to die from gunshot wounds last week, and the second was the mild irony. The New Amsterdam Muslim gentleman would have been intrigued to hear the mother of the wanted alleged Al-Qaeda terrorist leader, El-Shukrijumah. According to an Associated Press (AP) report the mom herself managed to sound “terroristic” when saying: “My son is not a violent person. He is very kind, generous…” and of the Times Square, self-avowed terrorist: “sometimes you have to do something very alarming for people to wake up.”
No wonder they say that avowed career terrorists regard the taking of other lives as sacred martyrdom – and necessary! But now you can see how some mothers encourage even fatal criminality.
A doc and a cop in court
This is a scenario from a court of law in a not-so-faraway Island –State. Called as a prosecution expert witness the Medical Examiner/Pathologist Doctor astounded all when he testified, surprisingly, that, in his professional, considered opinion, the victim died from accidental, probably self-inflicted, causes.
The prosecution was in a quandary to earn a guilty plea. They turned to another key witness: the young policeman, who was first on the crime scene, then recorded the incident at the station.
In the witness-box, the officer of the law stated how many things he had “forgotten” to record, and that one of three files and the murder weapon could not be found, months after the alleged murder. Of course, the accused was set free. To the grief of the victims’ family but to the joy of the accused’s supporters.
Just why did the two prosecution witnesses prove to be so untrustworthy? Do those things happen in our courts of law and justice? Why!?
Ponder well…
*1) After one year, paint samples and other specimens are not properly analysed/tested overseas. Oh how justice has fled!
*2) It would be revealing if we had structured public debates in this land. For example I’d love to hear businessman Robert Badal’s arguments on our hotel/hospitality sector opposed by those who disagree with his theses. Won’t you?
*3) Okay, good, if tentative, start. Now let the diasporic villagers mobilise funding and other (local) resources to establish bakeries, candle-making factories, medical clinics and private schools in their Guyana villages of origin.
*4) Mind you Dr. Hinds, the first waves of your Afro-villagers migrated during Burnham’s watch!
*5) Recall me boasting to American officials that even undocumented, illegal Guyanese in the USA merely wished to work hard. Not to bomb or destroy anywhere. My Lord, now after the JFK Airport convicts and El-Shukrijumah, I have to stay quiet!!
*6) Who are the leaders of these two Guyanese political parties: The Horizon and Star Party and the God Bless Guyana Party?
‘Til next week!
(Comments? Allanafenty@yahoo.com)
