-Primo passes pellets
Most of you will bear with me and this short sharp blast on my own personal trumpet. (Sometimes if you fail to recognise your own worth and contributions no one else will; self–respect might even earn external respect/appreciation?)
But perhaps in keeping with Historian/President Granger’s penchant for a renaissance in terms of national heritage and identity, this is a mere auto-biographical snapshot of my perspective on being a cultural patriot, a steadfast citizen. In spite of the political selfishness and mis-management that has kept us behind the socio-economic development of even some little islands – with scant resources – in our sphere of the geographic hemisphere.
You and I can remain Guyanese right here. And it’s not that I do not appreciate people’s reasons for migration. Perhaps my ambitions were/are quite limited. At my age and current outlook I know I’ll find it extremely challenging to live anywhere else for more than three/six months. (Perhaps only dire illness and or capture by my overseas daughters would overturn my life-long decision about my only “home”)
Influences, identity, contributions
Growing up, relatively “under-privileged”, in Alberttown, Georgetown and going to school in the nearby ward of Bourda I almost naturally inculcated a strong childhood liking for ball-games, steel-band, calypso, masquerade, Bill Rogers, Bourda Market and raiding alleyway-trees. Just a few of the influences that fashioned this urban, grandmother’s lad to be, to feel Guyanese.
Then by twenty-five/thirty I “bounced-up” Wordsworth McAndrew in Kitty. We knew him as broadcaster/story-teller/pannist/folklorist. In truth Mac was very much an academic intellectual. The description of “cultural anthropologist” was not then fashionable and Mac successfully submerged his academe, in favour of a persona that promoted Guyana’s cultural heritage with emphasis on its folklore. He read my creole stories on radio. He counselled me. (We “fell out” when I “became PNC” – briefly). He was a sterling influence, to the point where Terry Holder made me a radio story-teller when McAndrew migrated. (Why was I so upset that both Mac and Eddie Hooper left? Under “my PNC”?)
But thus began my continuous contributions to Guyanese identity.
After teaching in Primary classrooms at Goed Fortuin and Lodge for twelve years I was made to join a small group – under a brilliant American fugitive – to produce local supplementary readers for the school system. We were “before our time” in those early seventies. How great Guyanese was that. (Pity all the books ended praising the government.)
From Curriculum Development Centre to the pioneering National Service it was. Our writings were illustrated by the likes of Tom Feelings, Harold Bascom, Victor Davson, Emerson Samuels! I saw Guyana going to teach teachers about our books in every Region. One saw and loved this sprawling innocent land then.
Staying Guyanese, promoting same
One can become a Guyanese citizen in many ways. Every nationality has its peculiar characteristics, even as “Citizens of the world”.
I preach our folk-lore, foods, even politics in our lovely lyrical accent. I can imitate any accent I want. As pure fun. Why sound like what I’m not though?
Long after May’s Jubilee I’ll still be reading and telling our own history; about past heroes and biographies of our humble famous.
Yet, sometimes I grapple with the “Indian” and “African” origins and manifestations of our culture. However, I urge you-all to be and remain Guyanese – as the proud Trinidadians and Jamaicans remain true to who they are.
PPP blood-pressure?
Last Friday I mentioned how the government’s missteps provide the PPP dudes with “issues” to gloat over. Now almost daily!
A senior friend of mine would blurt out- when things ridiculous upset him- “That’s not good for my blood-pressure Allan!”
Any right-thinking, fair-minded citizen not politically loyal or tribal, has to watch their rising levels of blood-pressure when the immoral Opposition dares to criticise around issues such as sugar, trade, health services, corruption, the Police Force, GECOM, President Granger’s 3B’s, Parliament, Georgetown clean-up, et al.
When Mr Ramotar criticizes anything about sugar today, for example, my vexatious blood pressure tends to boil. Watch, control yours. After all. Their existence rests on criticism. The destructive kind!
Primo passes pellets.
It’s tempting to abbreviate “Primo Passes Pellets at Customs.” But this observation is not meant to be flippant, or given to levity.
As long as some “get through” others it seems – will forever attempt to take cocaine from Timehri to JFK, New York. They just are not stopping! Every conceivable container!
Including their private (?) parts and stomachs!
Grandmothers, hairdressers, sportsmen, entertainers all vie to be successful couriers who can get-rich-quick to buy a house, a SUV, a bike or a Rolex. To the dickens with morality! Or honest hard work and slow dollars.
Two Sundays ago this paper reported on the former national footballer, Mannaseh Primo, who fetched fifty-one (51 Pellets of Coke to NY, in his guts! Guess who gave him the pellets…
Some Ministers at meals
Would Minister Volda comfortably share a meal with an alleged molester, not ever convicted, in the presence of her little nieces?
If Minister Harmon- a former Intelligence Officer wanting to recover our assets- did sit down to a meal with Mr Brassington in Florida, what did they eat? Who paid?
Which Minister prefers Chinese food instead of soups?
Minister Holder is hereby respectfully advised to cut down on his personal consumption of rice.
Would you blame Ministers Nagamootoo and Ramjattan for thinking that their colleague Trotman had cook-up with the Opposition Leader in The Bahamas?
Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
