-Bishop “Brev” – and a cane-cutter’s thoughts
The primary objective herein today is to express my conditional support for the latest governmental initiative to confront, lessen or eliminate gender-based abuse, domestic violence.
My “social conscience” and concern, however, is still replete with my cynicism; my sense of “giving –up” and my doubts over the sincerity and credibility of so many of our “religious leaders” these days.
But given the daily/weekly battering of our females, amidst the general national culture of extreme violence, which threatens to characterize once-innocent Guyana as a Colombian/Mexican- like society where human life is worth little, one, must support any positive project or programme meant to challenge the scourge.
By now one would have gathered that I am referring to the Faith-Based Leaders training programme – the Domestic Violence – 101 sessions – launched on Monday. This seems to be a government-funded, President Jagdeo-friendly move to train religious leaders to use their expertise, mandirs, mosques, churches and pulpits to communicate and influence needed behavioural change. Hurriedly!
Mind you behavioural change, amongst adults, seldom comes “hurriedly”. Funny, co-incidentally, it was just over the past week-end that I viewed “Almighty Debt”, one episode in the “Blacks-in America series by American TV producer Soledad O’Brien. That show depicted how, historically and traditionally, African-Americans regarded their Black Church as a Safety-Net Sanctuary to which they turned for advice on daily living, besides their spiritual guidance for both their present and hereafter.
Violence? Sure, but what church?
As stated before, even as I question the genuiness and sincerity of many of our new, most times American-affiliated “Churches” with their tithe-demanding, “seed”-money-friendly Brazilian evangelists, Bishops, disciples, prophets and scores of enthusiastic, pastors, as well as the now-savvy, television pundits and moulvis-and imams, I welcome the effort to be trained to spot domestic trouble; to identify its causes, symptoms and remedies.
I’ll spare you all my understanding of domestic violence, in its varied forms. As with HIV-AIDS education, you’ve been bombarded recently with the definitions; with the Ministry’s and non-governmental approaches to arrest the phenomenon –so you’ll, no doubt, wonder why the battles seem lost.
Part of the general response to that, lies in the issue of – what really is the church – in Guyana – today? If the Colonial Church was part of our historical suppression, its “spiritual” authority and leadership; the respect for it was intact never-the-less. Moral values were inculcated – forced or accepted. Collective responsibility and public decency was far better than that which obtains today. Errant Priests or not!
Can the same be admired where today’s “churches” and “pastors” are concerned? You can guess at my own opinion.
My basic advice to the leaders in training from Dr Cecil Mercurius is this: Go out really, graduates! Go to the known village drug houses, to the liquor restaurants, the pool clubs and line-top, backdam shops where the husbands, chile-faadas and boy-friends drink before going home to beat and stab. Find out from neighbours and relatives in your congregations about alleged, prolonged abuse. Pre-empt the violence, the killings!
Because; frankly speaking, you know, full well, that the abusers hardly attend your church, your mandir or mosque. Good luck!
Bishop “Brev”…
How wonderful to see an old PNC-affiliated Comrade returning from his American “homeland” to contribute to President Jagdeo’s “Religious Initiative”.
Reverend Bishop Dr. Cecil “Brev” Mercurius was a senior public servant/adviser on co-operatives in the office of Prime Minister Burnham in the old days. He and current PNJC General-Secretary Oscar Clarke, also worked feverishly to help establish the youth corps.
Dr Mercurius is therefore suited for this short-stint task back in the land of his birth. He is one of several teacher- Public Servants I know who have converted to being holy men. Yes more Guyanese-American experts must return, however briefly, to contribute. I’m sure President Jagdeo will finance the genuine returnee-volunteers. Welcome “home”, Bishop Brev! Teach them that politics takes second place to service…
I’m a cane-cutter
“Guysuco and my Union, GAWU, seh I should be called cane-harvester! Mek me money rite and call me anything, is what I say.
Is not me put sugar in crisis today. Me accept that the Europeans ungrateful and get fed up giving we sugar priority and best prices. But for years I seeing Guysuco mis-management in the fields and factory also. Doan blame we for problems now! All me personal generation since indenture stick wid sugar. I’s a sugar worker! Cause some others in town doan tink we is workers too. Who used to earn de most foreign exchange for all Guyana.
I save to send me big boy to America after he come back from Cuba and serve. I think I gat a right to do other work for much more day’s pay than what Guysuco taxed-pay does pay me. Right? Even me last lil girl teacher getting mo pay for she extra lessons at home cause she doan teach all de curriculum during de school day!
I won’t disrespect de Guysuco CEO, any Public Service Professional, any private businessman – or palatician – an tell dem to join me in de fo-day marning order line and in de cane field in de hot sun. But a know dem salary!
Two lass points: I kyan go ketch me outa- crop hand in Barbados or St. Kitts no mo. Dey close off. We gat to keep going right hay! But who gun lead at Skeldon? I finding out also: How many of me union leader was sugar workers. I gone. I done…”
Ponder…
*1) Spare a thought for the future mind of teacher Mayfield who forgot the child in her car…
*2) The USA still invites 50,000 potential immigrants to apply via a lottery system. Why?
*3) If you’re still going to vote next year, check which candidate and running-mate really have you in mind.
*4) Who would you like for opposition leader by next year-end?
*5) Coming Next Friday – a military President – in- waiting…
’Til Next Week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
