Naturally there will be numerous reviews of 2011 as the year winds down tomorrow. So my offering here can be brief as various journalists recount straight happenings and significant news “stories”, whilst other seasoned commentators employ their personal perspectives and scientific analyses to pass judgement on the year.
Mind you, when folks assess any period, it’s actually the events and the persons or organizations behind those happenings which are being reviewed and assessed.
As usual, I don’t know how to be profound. I can just use my observations, senses and opinions to share. And yes reviews are done in categories sometimes: personal, family, community, national and international.
Commentators look for the political, economic, religious, sporting and entertainment, social and spiritual, as well. So my summarized take on 2011.
Political/National: At one time, one of the world’s youngest Head of State and Government our Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo offered us so very much, then squandered lots of expectations and goodwill, ending up with some real achievements of his Presidency being discredited by his professional detractors, along with some of his followers and the international community alike.
As 2011 ends, I register my own senior-citizen disappointment with Mr. Jagdeo’s “closure” for three main reasons – (i) even as a young PPP Turk, he assumed office without much negative political baggage; (ii) he was, at one time, appreciated internationally and did make his mark abroad with innovations like his LCDS; (iii) but under his watch my country became a premier Drugs Transshipment Point and rampant corruption, executive lawlessness – real and perceived – thrived. I hesitate to blame him solely for all the above along with alleged nepotism. But he was the boss. Sad for me and us all, as he keeps riding into some sunset.
Of course I’ll skip all the other now-obvious political/electoral issues for 2011, so familiar. Except two of my own 2011 favourites: the absolutely successful political re-incarnation of the WPA Think-Tank leadership who once declared they had no interest in electoral politics and the generational master-stroke in attempting to transfer the PNC phenomenon of decades-honed elections rigging onto the backs of the PPP. (Oh, how utilitarian must Rupert and Robert regard each other these days. Politics eh? The art of the possible…) Which Candidate would qualify to be a revisionist historian?
Developmental/International: For me the highly-touted projects in 2011 always were replete with the usual promises and “potential”. The benefits of 2011 never trickled down to the expectant people despite the photographs and footage.
I expect the new Parliament’s Opposition to scrutinize these 2011 Development projects. But this I ask: should we not all examine Private Sector efforts too? Of course my own International Wet Squib was the manifestations here of the UN Year for People of African Descent. I shall not preach, but after the pride of things past where are the projects of the future, my people!?
Cultural/Spiritual: It’s all personal when I record my 2011 regrets that more private, community-based organizations did not promote our cultural traditions much more. Our writers did produce and movies were made and the Culture Ministry did chip in, widening the scope of Mashramani whilst facilitating some cultural exponents from abroad and overseas tours.
But as the Ministry assisted African-oriented groups for the African Descendants Year, I still yearned for more from the folk themselves.
I suppose crises and social crimes would have been even more (?) if we had not the hundred churches and thousand Pastors, but I ask you did our moral mores improve this year? Could not “spirituality” be artificial?
In terms of popular music and entertainment, the less I say of the continued Jamaican invasion during this 2011, the better. When young Guyana can’t make it to the USA or Jamaica, those places come to them. Every month! (God Bless GT&T!)
My weak prognostications…
By now my regulars (of the past eighteen years will know how much I just love this word: prog-nos-tee-kay-shuns, which means fore-telling, or prediction.
What’s in store for Guyana next year, One’s “prophecies” or anticipation can either be obvious – or popular. But that’s cheap – or weak.
Anyhow here are a few of my weaker prognostications: (1) President Ramotar will early Sunday Morning tell of letting off CNS TV’6. And of his agreement to review five current projects.
(2) Four more technocrat non-elected Ministers will be appointed – One Chinese, – One Amerindian, – One Portuguese – and one Afro-Guyanese each.
(3) There will be contention in relation to the Parliamentary sub-committees.
(4) Traffic Patrols will be posted to Traffic accident Hot Spots, even at nights!
(4b) Guyana will do better at cricket and win something at the London Olympics in 2012
(5) A new Commissioner of Police will emerge. (This one was easy!)
(6) There will be four new huge economic projects – all completely legal and cocaine-free- to be constructed and run by Afro-Guyanese. At last!
(7) Though young voters will have to be educated about it, 2012 will be a leap year!
(8) Roger Luncheon, Walter Willis, Hamilton Green, Lincoln Lewis, Sam Hinds, Clement Rohee, Prem Misir, Robert Corbin, Kit Nascimento, Kwame McCoy, and Allan Fenty are among those who will/should make way for new names and faces next year.
(9) Robyn Rihanna (Fenty) will come to sing and dance in Guyana some time next year, to be brought in by honest, law-abiding businessmen (?)
(10) Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo will become a father!
Check those ten out for accuracy by June 30, 2012 (if you actually believe!)
’Til Next Year!
(allanafenty@yahoo.com)
