Emanating from my brief paid-up membership but years-long support of and for the People’s National Congress (PNC) – 1973 to around 1996 – I was one under–35 who admired Leader Forbes Burnham and wondered about the brash, ubiquitous, once-powerful Deputy, Hamilton Green.
Off-handedly, I had also promised myself that – if I stayed alive long enough to experience the end of Mr Green’s decades-long marathon mayorship of our capital – I would write something or the other about this (once) charismatic politician who obviously enjoyed authority, then power. Why?
Well Mr Green, to me, is , more than Oscar Clarke or say, Malcolm Parris/Rashleigh Jackson, an ageing symbol of a power–house local political institution that has superintended both the advent of our Nation-State – and it’s delayed development, under-performance and seemingly – permanent status of standing still. (Just watch current PNC Leader Granger prove me wrong! I’ll be pleased, mind you!)
So when two things happened within the past few days, I saw the opportunity to write the promised “something-or-the-other” Firstly, His Worship Hammie had to take off the chain and step down to precede the Local Government polls – after 22 years!
Then the Thursday March 24 edition of this ‘paper quoted Hammie as describing himself as “an old Sawakie” – not one to be easily duped or mis-informed by those with far less guile or experience which reside in his eight decades. (I love that Old–Timer’s expression, “Ole Sawakie”).
So for whatever it‘s worth – worthless!? – here are Allan Fenty’s briefest record, observations, descriptions, anecdotes, even conclusions relevant to the life and “doings” of Comrade Hamilton Green.
Strongman deputy, style, substance
Early seventies, my “realisation” of Green: exuberant; Burnham’s visible, ubiquitous deputy after mid-sixties accession to power having been General Secretary of the Party in Camp Street; just loving power – bodyguards, office décor, many assistants; Prime Minister, Vice-President after recognising Burnham’s “preference” for the avuncular Essequibian, Dr Ptolemy Reid from Dartmouth; relishing his role as strong-man lieutenant; then horrors! Burnham made Hoyte Prime Minister before him/Hammie; Burnham dies in ’85 and Hoyte accommodates him as PM. Then Hoyte agrees with Jimmy Carter to lose “free-and-fair” elections.
Hammie Green is livid at losing the grandeur of authority in late ’92; Hoyte expels him! Even RHO Corbin couldn’t broker political party personality cohesion (PPP/C); Hammie forms GGG – Good and Green Guyana; becomes both Mayor–for-Life (much of it) and a “Spiritual Revivalist”. Frankly Speaking, after the PNC’s last governmental days and the advent of young Jagdeo, the nation did need Spiritual and Moral Renewal. But from Strong Man Green!? Right message, wrong messenger!
In and out of his PNC Hammie had style. He was a teetotaller, keep-fit swimmer with personal physio and a real pistol on his shoe; he was described as both a strong-family-man and a ladies man. One acquaintance was a “Fenty” but Forbes had monitored his popularity with the hundreds of PNC lady-supporters. (To me, his Idol and Leader Forbes had decided that for faithful Hammie it was: “Thus far and no further”.)
This is not to say that Minister Green did not complement style with substance. Minister, PM Green got things done! For “his own” and others. Even as alleged mischief and mini-scandals attached themselves to his political status. Why did Rabbi Washington (House of Israel Enforcer—in-Chief) tell Journalist Cecil Griffith something naughty about Hammie?
Hammie threw a wonderful wedding when he married my own teacher’s daughter, one-time spouse of a former Jamaican Prime Minister, the beautiful, brainy Shirley Field-Ridley. He was no doubt extremely traumatised when she died suddenly and was cremated at a massive funeral.
To me he loved the big shiny Mayoral Chain even as his GGG Party “Comrades” sometimes abandoned him and the PPP made his marathon municipal tenure hell. When I saw a former political bulldog reduced to a poodle by Bharrat and Carol, I wondered. (“Nobody-go-run-me” seemed to be his longevity’s mantra.)
Today the ageing warrior has prevailed. He arranged his own loving send-off a few days ago at City Hall. Just as he did his inaugural coronation in ’94. The Brigadier President who knew him as Mr Hoyte’s PM welcomes him back as Senior-Elder Statesman.
Far be it from this “ordinary citizen” to judge this most interesting Guyanese political player. Perhaps next time, however, I must recognise a powerful letter to the media by one Mark Roopan which has some persuasive points criticising Hammie harshly. Just days ago. Next time. Now, I’ll just hail up Hammie.
Forever loyal? Forever tribal?
Look! Sorry! I won’t elaborate on the immediate above. Pointless!? Pardon my decision but I realise I – and other (more relentless) observers – will languish. In the short-term.
No matter how much graft, greed, corruption, kleptomania is uncovered, they’ll vote PPP and Bharrat. Also, their only security, they feel, is PNC/APNU – they’ll vote for Granger. Later for David Hinds, Eusi, et all. The lines are drawn.
Never-the-less, ‘buse me all you like, at other levels, I declare, we’re not that “popularised”.
Consider with me
*1) Mr President, why not switch Minister Lawrence like you switched Minister Broomes? Both powerful, loyal ladies…
*2) David Granger, Eric Phillips, Sunday Stabroek editorial writer – all accomplished historians? Coming soon.
*3) Editor Adam Harris suggests catching the Executive Thieves via their income tax submissions. Worthy thought!
*4) LGE or no LGE … Regional Community Enhancement Officer” for West Berbice. Interested? (Will he/she relate to the Regional Chairman? Or?)
*5) The Guyanese facing 30 years jail in Florida is described as a “Guyanese man”. When he visits homeland Guyana the local media calls him an “American Citizen”. Figure it out.
Til next week!
