Dear Editor,
And they are off. Local politics is like a keenly contested horse race. It is sometimes a frenetic one, complete with thundering hooves in furious chase, and whips flaying in slashing arcs of impatience seeking every precious inch of advantage.
Here it is that, the new government is hardly out of the starting gate, and the crowd is already on its feet roaring, arguing, analyzing, criticizing, and all the other things that are done so well here. Things are barely underway and quite a few stewards’ inquiries have been registered. Forget about the first furlong, the first yard has not been covered as yet, but the bloodhounds are on the trail sniffing for either the wrong scent or a fateful misstep; and Lord knows what else. The handicappers are out in force and extra weight is demanded to even the scales. Yet in true Guyanese fashion, the crowd is armed with its own Citation, while expecting another Native Dancer, even though knowing that it has a War Admiral in the running.
Some are questioning the track, pedigrees, and the odds. Then there are those locals who would liken all of this to the drabness and pedestrian nature of Harness Racing. My thinking, my approach is to let there be a honeymoon period. It is due and proper. Thus, unless something particularly egregious occurred, I plan on allowing this picture to unfold to the first post without comment. This is a distance race with a long, long way to go and lots of turns in the journey. Incidentally, some good old Demerara mud on the track could impact the pacesetters and dark horses and cause a stumble or two, so watch out. Still, my money (legitimately earned and accounted for) is that there could very well be a Secretariat in the making to calm the critics and doubters.
It is a far way and many a long day away from a local Triple Crown. But Belmont Park anyone? There might be a Guyanese Pharaoh galloping around in disguise. Time will tell whether this will be affirmed.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
