Costly blunders, avoidable embarrassments
Regarding my lead caption and issue(s), I have to be extremely cautious lest I upset a few readers. So sensitive are the two issues in our fragile national community today. And even though this “sermon” is coming from a concerned senior citizen, its repetition will ruffle some feathers. But here goes.
Quite recently Linden – and the nation I daresay – became outraged at the heinous death of a young lady, allegedly at the hands of a young man who had produced and presented a rap-like disgusting dancehall video and who, verifiably, had a weapon in his possession.
Quite naturally the community’s anger, grief and outrage over the murder or manslaughter – (you bet his defence would argue that the shooting was accidental) – were justified. Especially after the beautiful still young victim was buried in a backyard grave in a gruesome sitting position.
But as one quantity of the dust settled I contemplated one basis of a community’s wholesomeness. (I know I need to be cautious). In the relatively “good” old days there used to be marriage between two persons, male/female, which led to a family. Families produced communities. But family also produced parenting. Remember when both daddy and mommy were real parents? At home?
Home, church and school informed loving responsible parenting. Even long before professional counselling, the extended family with grandmothers especially, provided solid value-based guidance for children. So there was enormous respect and appreciation for parents and parenting.
Alas, modern pursuits and characteristics of today’s world – steamy lyrics, artificial religion, missing fathers, social media negatives – have all submerged parenting. The single-parent struggling mothers and grandmothers are so younger now! The wayward, under-educated youths no longer heed parental advice. For often there is none. Popular role-models are quite inappropriate these days.
Living home…
Living home, Chile-Mudduh, Chile-Faaduh, reputed wife/husband, outside woman, sweet man. The preceding “creole” descriptions are quite familiar names and situations to younger and old Guyanese. Again they indicate the metamorphosis – or breakdown (?) – of society of earlier periods. Even though I often concede that one earlier generation produces the current one, back then you had longer lasting marriages and parenting. Less divorces.
The western world now has professional women “contributing fully to society”. They try their best to be good, the best part-time mommies. Fathers leave, so “single parents”. I understand that in Guyana, some single mothers sometimes turn a blind eye to teenage daughters’ indiscretions. I read of 15 to 19-year olds “living home”. Already unprepared “mothers”. A fifteen-year-old girl also frequented the home of the alleged killer.
The parents of those two girls are now mightily, justifiably aggrieved. What is to be done?
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Marked! A case-study?
Everyone and their political cousin are having their say. So I tend to avoid or wait. However just a few sentences with questions.
The female attorney–at– law, now instant part–time politician, obviously mis-spoke when she deemed one segment of the population as “mentally lazy” (and mere dumb followers). Twist it turn it, manipulate it, it was a socio–political faux pas. Indo leaders jumped on it. The PNC lady, backed by “We stand by Amanza”, decided no apology was in order.
The inelegant usage by Haji Roshan Khan provided a case study. Today’s PNC machinery, such as it is, pounced! Khan said the lady with the offensive speech should be “marked”. Wrong usage! She went to the police. Since Khan owned a security service, she reasoned in fear, it could mean she was “marked for injury or death!” My Lord. Who believed that?
The case study then involved the call for conversations on race realities here; solutions for unity, comity, cohesion and so on. Her original sin deflected. Political points scored. Not bad, young PNC. Ho-Ho-Ho.
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PPP blunders, embarrassments
Remember now: for 28 years this has been the Man–in–the-Street column. Trying to interpret in simple language some complicated or complex issues. Last week I touched on the pros and cons – just a few – of the government’s first nine months.
Today I say that blunders could be costly. To poor tax payers. If only through foreign loans to be repaid. Recall Mr Jagdeo’s Skeldon sugar factory. Millions – or billions – wasted! A fibre optic cable that went nowhere. More millions. There were others over 23 years.
So we shouldn’t expect them not to have learnt. Now we have gas–to–shore; non– renegotiation of oil agreements; COVID relief and COVID treatment challenges. Whether PPP–friendly or Granger/Harmon opposition, we must monitor that government does the right thing. It’s our money being invested. Our future at stake.
Regarding embarrassments, Ravi Dev beat me to it. Because I’m not given to daily letters. I used to write draft speeches for ministers – both PNC and PPP (Ho–ho–ho). One has to be well researched, reasonably articulate. President Ali did blunder, or was misled to, with the reasons for the African slaves “arrival”.
But as Mr. Dev pointed out, free Africans along with Portuguese, Germans, Irish, Maltese and English labourers did “arrive” as contracted immigrants too. They all came seeking President Ali’s “improvement and development”, though the Europeans were brought to increase the “white population” then.
Shouldn’t Dev or Fenty write for the poor president? Ho-ho-ho.
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For Amanza’s consideration…
I suggest that “mental laziness” is encouraged at election time as all become tribal. But I wonder: do those “Indians” that become Bishop Singh, Pastor Persaud and vote WPA, TUF and AFC stay “lazy”?
Til next week!
