Dear Editor,
Some time ago I asked the following familiar question, ‘What’s in a name?’ In response I found that names have special meanings to some people. In fact, in some cultures it is believed that the name which a child is given at birth, helps to determine the outcome of that child’s future.
I believe that similar significance is given to numbers, and so today I will talk a little about numbers. Some people believe so much in numbers that they will or will not do certain things on certain dates or at certain times. The records will show that during the 1970s there was a certain magistrate whose favourite penalty for indictable offences was a fine of $126 or imprisonment for two months.
Let us pick the number three. It seems to me that this number is associated with both good and evil. If we were to research the Holy Bible we will find that the number three is of great importance, and there are also many biblical events in which the number is significant. But let us examine what has been happening around us in recent times.
The print media is filled with sad events in which the number three or a trio is a cornerstone. Here are some of them:
-Three Charged with Dookie Kidnapping.
-Trio likely for charges in Fireman’s
murder.
– Trio attempted to export cocaine in bottles
at airport.
-Trio held in murder of Linden athlete.
-Three discharged- shooter remains critical.
-Trio further remanded over escape from
NA prison
-Teens charged with killing female taxi
driver “Police yesterday charged three
teenagers”.
-GDF Lance Corporal, two others held after
attack on Lima man.
-Ex-employee among three held after
another Channel 9 break-in.
-$3.4M stolen from Police Finance Office –
three ranks were in custody
-Father, son in trio charged in Albouystown
crime.
-Diamond dealer robbed at gunpoint by
three.
-Three friends die in Providence crash
-Three remanded over Sand Hills ganja
farm find.
-Three charged with slaying NY Guyanese.
And the list goes on and on. You may recall that three managers from a certain commercial bank were charged with financial impropriety, and a certain Traffic Chief was involved in a three-vehicle accident on D’Urban Street Georgetown. The last thing that we heard of that matter was that the file was sent to the DPP. Perhaps it is still there. And I seem to recall that some time ago three members of the GDF maritime division allegedly robbed and killed a man who was transporting millions in cash to Bartica. They were arrested and the booty recovered. On the same day three members of the GPF were arrested for stealing the stolen booty. Further I noticed that Barama is once again in the news with the death of an employee. That has compelled me to recall that almost three years ago it was reported that a 17-year-old female teenager was gang raped by three adult employees of the company. Could any one say what has become of that matter? One of these days I shall be asking for an update on certain outstanding investigations and court cases.
I think that it will take me more than three years to chronicle the events associated with the number three. But what I know for sure is that a certain political party has lost three consecutive elections under a Robert and another party is likely to win under another Robert. However, while a president is prohibited from serving three consecutive terms, an aspirant to the office should be prohibited from making more than three attempts.
As for me there are some people in the trade union world who are angry with me because of the number three, yet, I will continue to love them and greet them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But do you know what has inspired me to write the letter? It is the story in which three Pakistani cricketers have disgraced their team and country with their dishonest agenda.
Yours faithfully
Francis Carryl