-My own farewell funeral concert
In countries – especially those which strive to be, or remain, democracies – which are governed by the rule of law, judges must be considered among the most vital officials of those societies. We local youngsters used to be in awe at judges/lawyers and doctors.
Let’s broadly define a judge to be: “a trained official qualified and authorised to decide questions, disputes, cases brought before a Court (of Law)”. Many dictionary definitions also allude to one considering and delivering an “authoritative opinion”. I suspect that “authoritative” is derived from legal authorities.
“Mortals” in my lead caption is used to remind all concerned or interested that judges are, like all of us, human. They eat, pray, get ill, have their own cultural preferences and are all voters at elections time. (I understand many judges reject being active members of political parties, even though a few might have been “spawned” within them.)
So judges are pivotal to our rule-of-law existence – attorneys who graduated to being legal arbiters handing down decisions required in from criminal matters to civic family law, to land law, commercial matters to constitutional law et al. So which professional/tradesman/expert influences our lives more? Teacher? Farmer? Doctor? Builder? Magistrate/judge?
Finally for this background and context, we must accept that good neutral judges rely on pure law to ground their decisions upon. Personal opinion must evolve from precedent, case law various constitutions. Interpretations often differ ending with majority and dissenting opinions. I suppose we have no choice but to trust our learned judges (?). Hence my being disturbed by sentiments from two sources. Which tend to be persuasive!
Led by Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin and bolstered by a published letter by a Ronald Singh a fortnight ago, issues relevant to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) attracted my attention. And my earnest hope that the two protagonists’ concerns cannot at all discredit Guyana’s highest court.
The main issue raised by the local attorney has to do with the Caribbean lawyer Francis Alexis appearing on behalf of the Coalition in the Appeal Court when Alexis is a member of the high-ranking commission which appoints CCJ judges! Discuss…
Then consider just why both the Coalition and the PPP employ Caribbean lawyers when approaching the CCJ on specific matters. Our own Attorney General seems to respect them highly.
For the record: Because I’m not tertiary-educated and don’t read in “absolute” into our Constitution’s “Majority provision”, I’ll die embracing 33 as the relevant appropriate majority. CCJ or no CCJ!
***********
My favourite stress-relief ministers
Government lady-ministers I mean. It’s both ironic and co-incidental that the Coalition’s female ministers who give me most smiles and mirth are the same ones I recognize as those in the forefront trenches when it comes to winning favour – and votes – for “APNU” (read PNC).
Way above the lot is the Bing-Bang-Boom Miner-Minister Simona. She used the parliamentary Assembly to video her lampoon against Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. Unheard of! She also announced that she was the “new sheriff in town” when she raided the Latin ladies’ abode in Bartica. But I liked the rootsy campaigner as junior Labour Minister.
“Dem Boys” beat me to it but both Ministers Valerie and Catherine obviously never discuss any aspect of governmental work with their spouses – over breakfast or when at prayers (Minister Valerie Adams-Patterson-Yearwood’s husband is a pastor, blessed with contracts).
Chairman Volda was being woefully honest about her hiring practices and General Secretary Amna must, at times, regret she challenged Dr Bharrat to “bring the No-confidence on”. (First peoples characteristics? Do you hear lots from Ministers Garrido-Lowe and Hastings?)
*******************
My final farewell, cemetery disgrace!
My small group of friends all know that my own farewell funeral concert has been long recorded on ’paper. Now I’m revealing it to the public and my hundreds (?) of fans and followers.
Since I’m not that religious, in some decent public space I’ll lie in the cheapest coffin available. Recorded music will play wholesome favourite tunes – including – yes – Gospel. There will be Yoruba – plus folk too. Live steelpan music in attendance. All before they bar-be-cue me by cremation. You’re all invited! But I hope to keep you waiting – for years (?)!
This week I attended the service and burial of a friend. Don’t wait on overseas financial assistance; start saving for funerals now. The cost-of-dying is high! The parlour takes thousands for vital services. City Council demands a share. But their cemetery is a national disgrace. Relatives of the deceased had to clear jungle-like bush and build bridges to reach the chosen spot. And the tomb masons still expect an extra “small piece”.
I can’t blame Georgetown’s Pandit mayor for the Le Repentir disgrace. But would join him in Hindu Prayers for the transformation of the National Cemetery. In time for the elections or first oil.
**************
Consider today…
1. Name just seven departments of the President’s super ministry?
2. Will not the PPP drop Irfaan?
3.One Party causes a controversy or crisis. Another – whose fault it wasn’t, is
aggrieved. Justifiably. But then that second aggrieved group is asked to sit and
negotiate agreement and peace with the culprits. Fair?
3 (b) I thank Mrs Commissiong for her clarification about “Commonwealth” voters
here. (Dr Steve – the Dr Steve – had beaten her to it). I’ll always be dissatisfied with
the provision. The only thing common about the Commonwealth is that Brittania
once ruled.
4. Realise how early European explorers and colonisers, upon “discovering” lands
already inhabited, would give names to people who owned those lands: Aborigines,
native people, Amerindians, Maoris. How arrogantly rude!
4(b) This column commenced its rigging series months ago. Glad to see others joining
in. Mine resumes next Friday.
5. Who once edited and produced the Scarlet Beret? The journal of the “People’s
Army”?
6. I sometimes ponder: What does His Excellency the Historian think of late
internationally-recognised fellow-historian, Dr Walter A Rodney?
’Til next week!
