Dear Editor,
In the early eighties at Linden, the bauxite company was thriving and people came from every part of Guyana to work and have a better life. Men enjoyed the social pastime of playing cards in their yards. Children would hang around while playing and watch the games older folks played. Before Burnham gave Mark Phillips a scholarship to study overseas, Phillips enjoyed the pastime of sitting in Bro Bobby’s yard at Half Mile/Canvas City playing cards and imbibing. Phillips enjoyed ‘cutters’ of fried fish, plantains and cheese which were customary to ease the gnawing hunger that comes with alcohol consumption.
It is clear that he has forgotten his humble and impoverished beginnings at Linden now that he is Prime Minister. He has forgotten the freedom poor people enjoyed to socialise and share freely the little they have with each other. Today, he speaks of a One Guyana that looks attractive on paper. If Phillips could have enjoyed cutters while drinking rum under Bro Bobby’s house, then our children from poor backgrounds should enjoy opening their lunch kits at school and finding food in them. He must now speak publicly to these issues.
Sincerely,
Norman Browne
Social and Political Activist
