Dear Editor,
A strange thing occurred last Thursday confirmed that this is a strange place, with the strangest of political creatures. Though not altogether surprising, both the PPP/C Government and the PNC Opposition Coalition (hope I have that right) raced out of the blocks to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As I absorbed this spectacle, which fits the bill, some unflattering thoughts came, and are shared. I looked at the two local political behemoths (monsters preferred), and awe comes. It takes something on the international scene, and as far away as the distant expanses of the Steppes to generate some degree of unison on the domestic front in Guyana. Though separate statements, it is still a small miracle to get both to agree on anything. It is ironic that it took the troubles in Russia and Ukraine to prompt this kind of intense and immediate reaction. I asked myself why, and arrived at some conclusions, which the big man would term ‘perceptions.’
To begin with, it was as if both the PPP/C and PNC were trying to be the first out of the starting gate and outdo the other in condemning this terrible and worrying move by the Russians. As an aside, it is the first time that I can recall in which leaders of the PPP have had the guts and backbone (and everybody knows what else that I leave unmentioned) to criticize anything, bar none, about Mother Russia. Second, and more relevantly, I think that both local political groups and their head honchos were waving their hands and screaming themselves hoarse to attract the attention of Americans, with the resident Ambassador and her people first; then those alert hawks in the State Department; and, last, movers and shakers in one of those wings in the White House itself.
Also, the curious visited me, and I am one with endless curiosity, for I remember from just the other day when two West Indian cricket leaders startled me with what I would kindly deem to be the
excitements of the times. Skipper Nicholas Pooran was content to settle for the ‘moments.’ But if seizing the “moments” is the best that we aspire to, then providence may have thrown in the towel with us. I speak not just of regional cricket, but of Guyanese politics also. Then, another fine West Indian cricketing leader stepped up after a series whitewash to declare that we did not do too badly, as in disgrace ourselves unpardonably. I am glad I never considered smoking, especially that kind. Editor, I used dismal cricket and its leadership reactions to draw a parallel with Guyana’s political leadership reflexive responses to the Russo-Ukraine battlefield, and I discern those rare moments being seized and there is this self-satisfaction that we are not doing too badly ourselves politically on the international front. Last, I ponder what the Americans think of all these spirited condemnations for the record. I think I also need one (stiff) for the road.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall