Yes, some who bother to read this would probably be justified for thinking or saying “there he goes again”. And I’ll understand.
Concomitantly with getting older, I become fussier about those who occupy public, decision-making office; with those who manage to become an authority or “power” to affect how I/we live our lives in this Big, Beautiful but Blighted Land.
Some may argue that since I Fenty do not vote for government, opposition or any parliamentarians, I should have no say. Nonsense, I say. Because, like all under-eighteen Guyanese and Jehovah Witnesses, I have Constitutional rights and roles as a full-fledged, tax-paying citizen of the republic.
Provocatively relevant here, is my oft-repeated “Best-of-the-bad-lot” theory (or reality.) You know, that in societies like Guyana, the electorate is often reduced to choosing/electing the best of the bad, the alternatives. Because, Frankly Speaking, we throw up few-or-no-noble, people-oriented leaders these days. (Just ask yourself, you matured friend, what made the current three/four groups of political “leaders” decide that they are fit to be your and our country’s head of this or that? What do you think is their innermost motivation? Consider that carefully as you listen to the Ramotars, Grangers, Nagamootoos, Trotmans, Luncheons, et al, speaking about what’s best for “the Guyanese people”.) I reserve comment on Hinds.
What Honour? Who’s “Honourable”?
Cynic and skeptic I reluctantly become. For it’s not desirable or healthy to lose faith in one’s peers, in the younger, brighter (?) generation; in mankind. Oh but the portents are hardly encouraging.
All our old and new Parliamentarians attract the use of the form of address, “Honourable member”. Honourable? The Assembly’s Standing Orders were once amended to allow “Comrade” to be used (1975). Though “Socialist” in nature, perhaps that was a safer bet. Because, I repeat, honour in Guyana, even in our lofty assembly is and will be in short supply!
Real honour has to do with “high, earned respect; reputation, integrity, nobleness of mind; even a consistent allegiance to what is right”. Is it even fair or reasonable to require our M.P.’s to fit into those definitions? Hardly.
So as we hopefully look forward to the new Tenth Parliament conducting legislative business truly in our interests, let us regard our highest representatives as down-to-earth, well-meaning, elected humans who are now entitled to enjoy the perquisites/perks of parliament. You-all gave them that entitlement. Now, hope-or-demand-that they, your servant-employees work for you!
(Former Clerk of the Assembly, Frank A. Narain, loved to quote British Labour Party M.P. Diane Abbott, who once remarked that “being an MP is the sort of job all working-class parents want for their children – clean, indoors-and not heavy lifting!”)
Oh, and here is the oath all your Guyanese Parliamentarians took the other day: “I, ………, do hereby solemnly declare that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the people of Guyana, that I will faithfully execute the office of member of the National Assembly without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and that in execution of the functions of that office, I will honour and uphold the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana”
The word “honour” appears again – as a verb. By the way is anything wrong in the case of our M.P.’s who swore some sort of allegiance to other countries? Mr Granger knows why hundreds of thousands of Guyanese hold two or more passports. He is to discuss the issue with his M.P.’s I hear.
Budget “Showdown” in the Honourable House?
“Paralysing” Parliament? New Elections!? Naah!
Stay tuned …
*****
For Cyril, For Godfrey…
I was bound, constrained to hold back my Manifestoes Series, to pay tribute instead to two Guyanese iconic figures who spent their lives contributing to Guyana’s culture and identity. Cyril Shaw and Godfrey Chin passed away over the past week-end. They are bound to embrace wherever their entrepreneurial, creative souls collide.
Amidst the numerous local and overseas encomiums, I pen two memories born of many personal encounters with the two giants.
Cyril Shaw: Towards the end of his active healthy life, when not touring the world with his international artistes, he lived around the corner from my home. That was in Gordon Street, Kitty.
I knew the girls as pre-teens and so on. I have perhaps the last interview he gave anyone. (Mrs Shaw told me of exchanges between Cyril and Ranji Chandisingh.
Cyril might avoid Ranji up there.) Young Sparrow was taken up the Pomeroon by Cyril Shaw. Later Sparrow described his groundings here in a peculiar manner, but remained grateful to Cyril. Dr Roath (Seeta) must write her father’s story! For all Guyanese of today.
Godfrey Chin: We would debate in the friendliest of manner, the impact of his beautiful seminal Nostalgias On generations past and present.
In lamenting the disconnect our youth, expectedly, has for the social past, I once wrote: “Godfrey’s nostalgias are indeed gems of recollections, the emotional, sentimental expressions of living in colonial and post-colonial British Guiana, which living though tough, had romance and urban adventure in the experience and to us, over fifty/sixty especially, was worth every minute. But those sentiments can never be wholly captured by today’s youth.
The spirituality, the soul, the innermost emotive responses to those memories have no connect to this generation. And that can’t be Godfrey Chin’s fault…”
Godfrey’s farewell service is on in Georgetown today. Cyril’s Essequibo/spiritual home-going is at the National Cultural Centre on Tuesday.
*****
Ponder …
*1) Mark my words, Parliament’s committees – standing, special select, sectoral – will take centre stage frequently. You’ll soon understand.
*2) Imagine two members of the opposition falling very ill before crucial sittings. What can the speaker do? What’s the provision?
*3) The Guyana Cook-up show resumes on CNS TV today.
Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
