Dear Editor,
‘Let the dogs bark Sancho, it’s a sign that we are on track,’ he said, as he lifted his head high, matching his rusted lance, riding on the sore back of brave Rocinante, peering through his heavy iron visor in search of his nemesis, the giants. Not once did Sancho Panza, his faithful squire, disagreed his mentally sick master who continued to cause and see problems where none exists only sees non-existing enemies except in his mind. Except when he attacked the windmills believing them to be giants, did Sancho disagreed with Don Quixote.
‘Don Quixote’ was written by Miguel de Cervantes more than four hundred years ago but this fictional character was given breath on numerous occasions by men who felt that they can change the world with their insanely lofty ideals and in the end achieved only destruction and mayhem. In his book, Cervantes not only implies that lofty idealism has the ability to make one look foolish but can result in personal injuries and destruction. Many misadventures and grievances could have been avoided if only Don Quixote had listened to his faithful squire’s advice.
In Guyana, we have a present day Don Quixote who is hell bent on attacking professionals whom he felt are attacking the sugar mills. He now feels that he is the Protector of the mills and must save them at all cost. Riding in his Rocinante (Volvo), he moves from sugar mill to sugar mill accompanied by his band of loyal squires led by his Chief of Staff, getting rid of his perceived adversaries. No one can object to his quixotic ideals and he spares no one who dares to differ, as he irrationally replaces accomplished and competent management staff and, at the same time, surrounds himself with his band of opportunistic ‘yes men’. Business Plans painstakingly formulated by Estates’ management are thrown into the bins as he rewrites and modifies them to his liking.
At the end of each day’s work, having succeeded in getting everyone to agree with him, he wends his way back to his magnificent mansion – mission accomplished. Oblivious the sugar mills are slowly going under he could be heard saying, ‘Let the dogs bark Sancho…’
Sincerely,
Abdool Majeed
