I was most definitely, committed to my more light-hearted, escapist mode in planning today’s brief offering.
Then I read an editorial opinion which articulated a growing conclusion that had enveloped my consciousness over the past weeks. I try to be restrained, cautious in terms of condemnation, understanding as I do a bit about ego and human frailty until the evidence piles up! My concern is about the persona of President Donald Ramotar, the Head of State I should recognize, with satisfaction and pride, as my country’s leader.
I do not vote for anyone but our constitution instructs that he cares for me, for all of us. Because both state and patrimony are our, the people’s, own.
Before I make my main point (of agreement with the editorial) let me share my fleeting thoughts of Donald Ramotar, politician-turned-President.
I use to “encounter” him at receptions thrown by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU). Somehow the late Pandit Reepu, Moses Nagamootoo, Roger Luncheon and Gail Teixeira, for example, always seemed to keep him in the peripheral wings of his PPP.
He was, of course, the organizer-on–the ground, the student of Comrade Cheddi then suddenly General Secretary.
I listened to him in the National Assembly and he was relatively ordinary – no colour, no command of oratory, as of “still now.” He sparkled at the social receptions however. Convivial and witty, he could energise the party. At one such fete at the Everest he approached me with: “Fenty, I see your old party is now to become the PNC-Deformed!” Years after, he was to describe his one-time solid Comrade as “A Jackass.”
But in searching for his original persona, I found out that he is a proud Essequibian from humble beginnings, of mixed ethnicity- Indian, Amerindian, African and mixes with all, naturally- from farmland to karaoke.
But what did contemporary politics, young Jagdeo’s influence, control (?) and the enthusiastic Attorney-General’s advice do to this normally-likeable Ramotar?
Contempt for the Majority?
Now a non-voter, I can still respect the still agreed- upon system which gives the single Party with the most votes the Presidency and Government. In some more civilized political societies, what happened here in November 2011 would have influenced Mr Ramotar to invite “Opposition” “Majority members” to join his government? (But it is up to you-all to change the current system.)
So reserved as I try to be in and with my assessments of Ramotar I agree with this Monday’s Stabroek News Editorial. The man now seems to be utterly contemptuous of the majority of you all who voted.
He did boast earlier that he would assent to no Bill (in Parliament) which “His” Parliamentarians had rejected. Opposition majority or not! He has now kept his word, even in dubious constitutional circumstances. Demonstrating insensitivity and lack of compromise from the top, his attorney-general utilizes constitutional explanations in place of the Spirit of the Parliamentary Majority. The two Bills nixed are not ones seething with anti-government significance.
I suppose that the current PPP/C realizes that even if the Opposition refuses to support any government legislation, it is the people of Guyana who will suffer ultimately. (Or are they relying on the AFC’s “loose- cannon/neutral politics”?) Stay tuned, poor electorate and others.
Arise, civil society!
I don’t fool myself at my age. I accept that we in this Big, Beautiful, Blighted Land still, have never inculcated a civil culture of grass-roots, popular mobilization to get wrong things right. Outside of political organisations.
Frankly Speaking, we’ve never fashioned a powerful civil society movement to complement, cajole (or threaten) the ailing political governmental structures. Other more cohesive, independent-oriented societies throw up groups that pressure officialdom into seeing and bowing to reason and justice for their people. Their people with various valid causes.
The constitution of Guyana and numerous international charters allow for and protect the right of civil society to claim its own space continuously and consistently between and long after periodic elections. I’m throwing whatever (puny) support I can offer to fashioning such a movement in this and. Join me.
Searching for levity…
Sometimes if the poor doesn’t laugh, they’ll cry. For just a few sentences hereunder, try to find some (survivalist) humour.
President Ramotar once sat on the GuySuCo Board and probably sensed the decline years ago. He now hints that the sugar industry can no longer be “very labour intensive.” Funny? Or not?
A GHK LALL who is simply in love with the language English, submits that none of our Presidents has demonstrated any “indefinable resonance of character.” I add: So spare Burnham (?)
From the Sunday Chronicle (remember that newspaper?): Quite a few “Indo-Guyanese” males and females are searching for partners apparently. See the Pen pals section. The “male” is now seeking any female “race”, but prefers “negro”. Integration? Or Discrimination? Stress relief?
Ponder…
I agree: government entities should stagger lunch hour breaks to provide service for eight hours daily continuously.
Hammie Green would be a great witness in any Walter Rodney Enquiry. What about Norman McLean, Rupert Rooopnaraine, RHO Corbin, Elvin Mc David, etc, etc, etc? You really believe our decision makers are up to that?
How do we get senior counsel in our legal fraternity?
How do we train police detectives? (I see we have sent police to Trinidad, South Korea, Russia, and Canada.)
Disgruntled GAWU marcher on May Day? “De best Union is Western Union!”
‘Til next week!
allanafenty@yahoo.com
