The tragedy and politics of floods
My captioned three-part miscellany – or potpourri – will be as brief as they are diverse today.
Topic one: I learnt the word “diaspora” from the “dispersal” of the Jews around the world (before the German Holocaust and the creation of modern Israel.) Those “scattered” people highlighted and even promoted the concept of “diaspora.”
I was not familiar with any American city street being co-named. Then came the Little Guyana naming event in Queens, NY, NY, USA last weekend. The miles-long Liberty Avenue now has “Little Guyana” attached to it in the Richmond Hill section of the Borough of Queens. When I first visited the USA in the late seventies that area was just being christened “Little Berbice.”
The reason, of course, was consequent upon the exodus of Guyanese from Forbes Burnham’s “Governance”. Guyanese of Indian descent found a welcome and niche in that portion of New York City. I understand that Italians moved away as Indo-Guyanese welcomed thousands of their fleeing relatives to Queens. Housing, businesses, temples, enclaves all quickly became Guyanese there – Indo-Guyanese.
Political and socio-cultural correctness dictated that any reference to Indian Guyanese was ignored in New York last week-end. Ah well, I find it a challenge to “fool” myself at my age. Congrats to those folks for their American recognition. Keep the Golden Arrowhead and the tassa drums going.
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Guyana’s diaspora
You-all know that I’m incapable of the more academic/scientific analysis. So I confine myself to my own simple facts.
No description like “diaspora” was used when Guyanese and West Indians started flocking to Britain in the fifties. Even when I became a hopeful PNC Comrade in the early seventies; when “push-pull” factors and Comrade Leader Burnham’s harsh policies drove Afro-Guyanese to exile in The Bahamas, Barbados, the Bronx and Brooklyn, the term diaspora was not that popular or used. I often debate about which group of the half of a million souls who fled did “better.”
The Indos in Little Guyana Queens retained their Berbice/Demerara/Essequibo lands and rice-fields and exploited American opportunities to the maximum. Many should actually thank Burnham! Those are still enjoying the best of two worlds. Even under Cheddi Jagan – who tried to entice return – Jagdeo and Ramotar, Indo-Guyanese – like the Afro-Guyanese immigrant citizens there – stayed put in Queens. Nothing like that American passport!
Israel, India, Jamaica and scores of societies who have supplied America with brains and brawn have structured diaspora departments to maintain productive engagements with those who still regard their homelands. All of our governments so far have stumbled and bumped in this regard. Informal association and sheer necessity “back-home” dictate diaspora links.
This 10-month old government is now making ambitious diaspora noises. Will they be different? Don’t hold your breath. But let me be wrong!
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Our kleptocracy – Emerging? Or already present?
Dictionary definitions of “kleptocracy” will include: “government by those who seek chiefly status and personal gain at the expense of the governed”
Other definitions explain the neurotic impulses just to steal! For the sake of stealing. Because opportunities for theft and corruption abound.
An institutional kleptocracy refers to government, officialdom and the sustained thievery by those who are positioned to serve society.
A state of kleptocracy might even be accommodated in a (so-called) democracy? Thefts at GWI, police, many state entities. When?
My questions – for your consideration and possible assistance – is: do we have elements of a kleptocracy emerging here? Don’t rush to a quick response!
Consider Granger’s allegations about the PPP’s 23-year old tenure (1992 to 2015). What about Burnham’s rule (28 yrs)? Did the Brigadier’s inquiries catch alleged PPP kleptomaniacs? Now check the Auditor-General’s reports regarding the Brigadier’s government – gold bangles and all. Poor us – the poor. Oil wealth and kleptomania???
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Floods 2021: Tragedy, politics
An aside: immediately after the flag raising event of Tuesday evening 25th May last, the PNC young comrades highlighted the 1966 Independence Day and the 2020 Flag Raising at D’Urban Park. Ho-ho-ho! Division or separation? (Ow-man, you couldn’t have the usual thousands this year. Why?)
During the Great Flood of January 2005 water lodged itself in my dwelling in South Ruimveldt Park for nearly two weeks! The pumps from Italy never arrived in any timely fashion. Even as some manipulated government’s “flood relief” then, we all managed to survive. We’ll do so again.
But another PPP administration now has to fashion immediately, a current and post-flood recovery programme. This is a consequence and responsibility of wanting to govern, to manage. Even though you did not plan the floods. Lt Col Craig’s CDC must be elevated to plan ahead. Rehabilitation beyond hampers!
The 2005 Great Flood devastated the Demerara Coast. This monster is wreaking havoc across the nation. Along with Covid assistance, request international help. Farmers’ lives are under siege. Covid patients are also besieged. I empathize with government now. But stop posing for cameras, ignore unhelpful opposition critics – and get on with it.
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Just consider these…
1. India sent us Covid vaccines. Now my heart breaks for India. South Africa is also challenged. But we hear little of Covid throughout Africa. Why?
2. Do the new fellows-in-black, the Police Corporate Communication Unit – have “influence” enough to “slant” GPF news?
3. Besides Samuel Archibald Hinds (USA) when will the other three Afro ambassadors be appointed?
4. Eighty (80) candidates, hoping to contest Mexico’s elections have been executed!
5. Hammie Green shoots off weekly. What about two other prominent survivors Ramphal and Chase?
6. American Reverend: “We must not become what we once despised”
7. Coming next week: “Parents burying children” and “The truth behind today’s D’Urban Park”
Til next week!
