Dear Editor,
It is difficult to respond to “nonsense”, but when “nonsense” flows from the pen of an accredited writer, it becomes dangerous if left unchallenged.
Ms. Shah’s “nonsense” starts with her dismissive attitude towards Mr. Saieed Khalil’s eloquent letter, when she glibly says “Good for him” (SN 16.4.2015). Her “good for him” chirping is symptomatic of a weak news peddler who when cornered chooses an escape route adopting an arrogant dismissive posture.
Mr. Saieed Khalil wrote ‘by allowing the PPP to ruthlessly prey on our ethnic insecurities, we Guyanese of East Indian origin, have en bloc conceded our power over this mechanism to a cabal of politicians – and, if this said trend continues their progeny – who have their cosmetic desires and not our needs and those of all of our countrymen at heart.” (SN April 13, 2015).
He further states: “For 23 years, the PPP has waved, from its campaign podiums, the jumbie of a return of PNC orchestrated tyranny when an actual aberration is upon us, draining the lifeblood out of the economy and presiding over a youth jobs crisis so great that we effectively export 90% of our tertiary graduates and, according to recently disclosed US Embassy statistics and other analytical extrapolations, a handsome chunk of our overall labour force; subjecting independent media to sustained and systematic harassment; and perpetrating routine and widespread human rights abuses against youngsters and dissidents”.
If Ms Shah disagreed with this interpretation of history, presuming she possesses the skill to articulate a reasoned response, she should have answered Mr. Khalil’s argument above.
But throwing a tantrum and getting into a fit does little to augment her role in the Guyanese literary circle.
Some may argue that her response is unvarnished ethnic ignorance, but I would not be so unkind. I do believe it is a function of a deepening vortex swallowing Ms. Shah from which she has no escape, and she offers a pitiful “I am no supporter of one side or the other but simply a citizen pointing our nonsense when nonsense prevails”.
Yeah right!
Ms. Shah’s answer to the criticism of the PPP’s adoption of “pickney and family politics” is by reference to the American political families Kennedys, Bushes, and Clintons, exposing another one of her fables, as utter ignorance of the American political culture and system.
The Kennedys come from a long list of public service starting with Ambassador Joseph Kennedy following by his sons Senator John F. Kennedy (later President Kennedy), Senator Robert Kennedy, Senator Edward Kennedy and several of their offspring. Every single member of the Kennedy family in seeking political office had to participate in a democratic primary, often times bruising battles, whether running as a Senator, Congressman, State representative or as a Presidential Candidate.
Additionally, the post of Ambassador is subject to congressional hearing and confirmation as was recently witnessed in the case of Caroline Kennedy (President J.F.K.’s daughter) America’s current Ambassador to Japan. None of the Kennedy were simply handpicked by their father, mother, wife, or husband but had to be approved by a democratic process where they competed against other candidates seeking to serve their country.
The same applies to the Bushes and the Clintons and therefore it is amazing that this published writer would so carelessly offer as her defence the American experience. In the process further exposing her lack of knowledge and/ or deep seated bias, against any person who dares question the pickney politics culture that is currently staring the nation straight in its face.
I challenged Ms. Shah to produce a single piece of evidence to show where else in the Commonwealth Caribbean, almost 20% of the slate of any political party, comes through immediate family ties.
Moreover, her justification of this pickney business nails her lie that she is an impartial bystander.
I noticed in yesterday’s SN 17/4/2015, former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Justice Charles R. Ramson, has jumped into the fray, offering an uncharacteristic weak defence of the pickney politics business, focusing on L.F.S. Burnham, a person he reverently admires.
The good AG needs to be accorded special attention and I shall respond to him separately, shortly.
Yours faithfully,
Jerome Khan
