-Retail Politics versus Mobile Rallies
Whenever I’m about to scold myself for embracing European-inspired traditions, I quickly remind myself of my strongly-held historical fact and belief: that Europeans, Asians, all Humanity, were originally African (Black and /or Brown.) From the African cradle of civilization other so-called “races”, ethnicities evolved!
So that personal realization and acceptance of mine allow (s) me the rationale (?) the reason (?), the excuse (?) to recognise the Spirit of Valentine’s Day. Frankly speaking, Guyana and the world badly needs the love which the (European) Saint Valentine promotes. Amidst Global, regional conflicts, crime, disease and yes, Elections Campaigns.
Research – Google, Wikipedia – will provide you-all with the origins of Valentine’s Day. But I’m wondering: won’t our politicians and campaigners – those who now vigorously campaign to retain or regain authority over us – take a few hours off to share peace, comfort, affection, love amongst their comrades, their workmates, their cherished ones, their opponents today?
It will cost nothing! For what is love? What does it do? Well in terms of human emotions, love’s basic definitions suggest themselves: “Strong affection; warm attachment; unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for another.” Then there is the more “primordial” relationship, born of the genders: “attraction based on sexual desire.”
Of course I’m no naïve nor innocent sentimentalist. Especially in the midst of a do-or-die, even cut-throat Election Campaign. With so much to lose or gain the competing candidates, politicians and pretenders have no room for emotional displays of affection for their “greedy ambitious” opponents. No siree! Not when this is a March 02 battle to administer, to manage, to control the Guyana Petro-State.
I did not even remember to formally suggest to the ever-hopeful, ever-trying Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to invite two representatives – male/female- of all the Campaign Contestants to join them, the ERC, the Broadcast Authority, the Council of Churches and GECOM to a love-fest type of luncheon or dinner today.
Valentine invitees would have been seated strategically – to exude love for an hour or two. Before resuming hostilities tomorrow.
Oh well, as I always “love” to declare: “If genuine love is ever elusive amongst us – leaders and followers – let’s settle for peaceful co- existence”. Buttressed by many hugs.
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But concerning sincere (creole) love…
On a much lighter, educational, inspirational (?) note, allow me to introduce you to the most creole descriptions of strong love, which our non-folkloric dot-com generation knows little or nothing of.
Basic preliminary research – Google, Wikipedia – will tell you the origins of today’s Valentine’s Day. But my late “mentor” folklorist, social anthropologist Wordsworth McAndrew outlined a classic typee list for me. (The word itself seems to have Hindi origins.) Here goes – in summary.
Typee – a very strong love attraction sometimes unexplainable, most times uncontrollable. Chiranghi – a stronger affliction than typee!
Logicoma -“as soon as you spot she, yuh faint!” Typhosious-Rikitiks, Totee-lo tee po, Riche-Chechee (“Yuh washing she fine clothes”) and so on.
Mac listed 39 stages of typee love. Dead seriously! Trinidad has a few stages also beginning with Tabanka. By whatever description. Love is the emotion that should prevail.
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Retail Politics Vs Mobile Mass Rallies
You have to hand it to the incumbent PNC Administration when you behold the thousands upon thousands of (free) T Shirts and other tops being distributed to colour their rallies green. Then too are the flags, the banners. What a Campaign War Chest! From whence came their funding? What? I’m too “fast”? Ho-ho-ho.
But spare a thought for this querulous observation: are mass rallies where and when supporters are bussed and trucked in to various venues really reflective of actual constituency support? Or are they being staged to show the country and the world “mass support” even if hundreds are not registered or are under 18?
If the final count at the end of polling shows your party has lost, you can claim “how come? You didn’t see our rallies’ thousands?”
“Retail politics” refers to the more reliable, on-the-ground/in-the-trenches campaigning. As when the PNC’s Chris Jones, Annette and Amna, Joe and Basil and “Bing–Bang-Boom” ubiquitous Simona go to the Village Four Corner, Pools Shops and Bars, Markets, Bus Terminals and “Bottom Houses” to spread the messages take gifts and needed assistance and solicit actual votes.
One-on-one ”visitations” to secure actual Polling Day support as you GOTV – get out the vote. So, Rallies or Retail? Both? Okay all contestants. Just keep it clean, peaceful.
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Pause to ponder- Seriously
● 1) Patriots promote, love, live, die for their country. They tend to be nationalistic. But don’t we have self-sustaining partisan patriots these days?
● 2) The PPP’s Neil Kumar is an expert with respect to what to look for at close of poll: the role and vigilance of polling agents and party scrutineers; what Presiding Officers can cause by signing statements of poll, or not signing; about rejected ballots, invalid ballots even unused ballot papers left over! Do observers know all this?
● 3) Will the PRP, NIP, URP, ANUG, LJP, TCI and TNM all have polling agents on polling day?
● 3b) A Robin Singh’s letter to this paper – on Tuesday 11th February 2020 – “Towards a lawful electoral process” – is a masterful brief on polling day activities. Note the “power” of the Returning Officers, as previously pointed out by A.A. Fenty. I wonder: should I send a copy of Mr Singh’s brief to every local and foreign observer?
● 4) Are both Rusal and Global Witness/ OpenOil Anti-Granger Government?
Til’ next week!
