-Romanticising the ghetto? Or empowering it?
Hoping that the thoughts explored or expressed in the paragraphs immediately hereunder do not attract the displeasure of the more politically-minded. Especially His Excellency’s Coalition comrades.
It might be that I had little to do or took time off from watching the myriad sporting events around the world when my ageing but still fertile – or mischievous – mind accommodated the following.
I soaked in reports of army officers’ recent bloody involvement in political developments in Africa, Venezuela and elsewhere and suddenly was thankful that our army – GDF – is more neutrally(?) professional and dedicated to securing our sovereignty and contributing to the national economic development. And the army – that premier component of His Excellency – the Brigadier’s Total National Defence (TND) – seems quite quite loyal to its Commander-in-Chief, our state’s supreme executive Authority.
So expect no coups in Guyana or in our “Commonwealth” Caribbean. The armies’, the defence forces’ allegiances are wedded to the state and its elected managers. Democracy prevails as do the supportive institutions. (We periodically only quarrel over election dates.)
A related phenomenon in Guyana since His Excellency’s ascendancy in mid-2015, has been the extremely significant increase in the employment of retired army officers. These former GDF gentlemen – and a few ladies too – are army pensioners familiar to the Brigadier when in the Officer Corps – who have been deployed by His Excellency to crucial “positions” in the body politic and, I daresay in the economy.
You can find His Excellency’s officers in his cabinet, environment department, police service training college, the housing department, in aviation, CANU oversight, the Broadcasting Authority, etc, etc. Many qualified themselves highly, at our expense, whilst still active. Now these still active retirees are contracted to serve us continuously. How constructive! Loyal to their professions, to the state and to His Excellency. What if there is a change of government? Ho-ho!
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B.A.M.N. – the Coalition intends to stay!
“I told you so”. I’ve been telling you since last year. The PNC-led Coalition intends to maintain and sustain political/administrative power by any and all means necessary! (BAMN)! You all list the various means available. I’ll assist. There can be delays – litigation, drawn-out court challenges; appointments slowed down; budgetary manipulations; the “total-national-defence” options and deployments. Oh yes, also electoral manipulation.
Mind you with the Jagdeo-appointed Irfaan as presidential candidate, the APNU(?) – even with “deadmeat” AFC – might be able to win an election fair and square! Ho-ho!
Now consider this for your homework: will ABC – America, Britain and Canada – oversee a fair poll, whenever? Will America and ExxonMobil prefer His Excellency or PPP by 2020? In coming up with your answers and conclusions recall when the senior (now deceased) President George Bush wrote a “congratulatory” letter to President Dessie in early 1992. Then President Carter “visited” President Dessie here. Ho-ho!
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Ghetto reality: hail up, empower…
I suppose that in most societies there are extremely “depressed” communities wherein the inhabitants can be described as existing below a “poverty line” determined by those societies.
Challenged socio-economically, there are a variety of descriptions in various languages for poverty-stricken places. One “popular” name was Shanty-town. Of course “ghetto” is used, usually to describe inner-city, sometimes crime-ridden communities. In copy-cat Guyana Gully and Gaza are now borrowed from the Jamaicans. The Jamaican influence in language, specific genres of music and lyrics offers me some concern. Why?
Well if you study the “oppressor” lyrics which characterise some dancehall songs and/or view certain videos you’ll realise how much the gangsta-rap psychology tends to romanticise the young Afro-reality. As “gangsters” assume role model status, if the performer has a police record he approaches hero-status! Anti-Babylon (police) positions and anti-establishment defiance become new norms.
I once heard that the Jagdeo Administration was planning to obliterate Tiger Bay to transform the real estate location into a commercial hub. (Owned by whom?) The depressed are now being relocated from Broad Street to elsewhere shortly. In a structured manner. Won’t oil revenues assist to eradicate ghettoes wherein young Afro-lives are spawned to experience poverty, to feel hopelessness, then to celebrate wrong-doing? Perhaps some government should bring back Lumumba’s Department of Empowerment.
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To ponder and reflect…
1. Last week Wednesday (June 19) when the other dailies were, expectantly, using headlines and captions about the CCJ decisions, not Vice-President Nagamootoo’s Chronicle! The more things change…?
2. Remember steadfastly: we deserve a different type of Elections Commission.
3. Name three reasons to explain CARICOM’s silence on Guyana’s political and governance issues.
4. Next week let’s name twelve political parties in the homeland. And if First Vice-President Naga is “royalty”, I’m an emperor!
5. Don’t be negligent! Secure what you need from His Excellency’s Coalition during this period.
6. If non-tribal voters like me stay away from the polls, which party benefits?
7. Please, please Madam Judge: don’t jail Honourable Minister Winston “Good-life” Jordan. Since his first 2015 Budget he could not yet deliver the promised good-life unto us. But he gave me $500.00 more on my Old Age Pension. So give him time. Out of prison!
’Til next week!
