Dear Editor,
The letter you published yesterday of one of my heroes, Eusi Kwayana, on Mr Nandlall’s right to privacy, reminds me that I have lately needed to explain to young Guyanese that the word and idea of integrity means being one, the same person all the time. In public or in private, not changing views or behaviour according to immediate needs, but reliable, predictable and trustworthy. (‘Where does the private capacity of Nandlall begin and end and that of the AG begin and end?’ SN, December 5)
Ugh, how boring, but these qualities used to be helpful to the image of a public servant, and to his/her official performance. Perhaps the very concept of public service also needs explanation to the now generation. There is a related notion of the duty of every citizen to serve the public good, but that is another archaic dream where the brave dare not go.
Meanwhile the humblest to the most powerful member of the government is perforce a beacon of truth of the character of the leadership and the entire nation. That truth, perhaps, is usually manufactured, but while appearances are deceptive, we can at least have them appear favourable rather than reprehensible. For as long, at any rate, as we rely on elections and other trappings of democracy.
This may be a crude and cynical guide to personal conduct in the high echelons of our society, but in these times it seems we are reduced to the analysis expressed by a Guyanese friend long absent: “Looks bad; Oww, man, looks so bad.”
Yours faithfully,
Gordon Forte
