(Poor?) GECOM Chairpersons
Hello friends Consider the term “single-parents”. Does it mean unmarried parents? Or just one parent mother or father caring a child?
I suppose it means “one unmarried parent”. Because in fact, a child is not the product of any one “single” person or parent. It takes two! Agreed?
Designated Mother’s Day, Sunday coming is meant to pay tribute to the irrepressible status of motherhood. Truly a singular status – if still recognising the role played by fathers who made mothers mothers. Who assisted females to become mothers.
Spare a thought today for the (unfortunate?) social phenomenon in our society today described as “a single-parent”. More often than not referring to women who are the sole providers for their child or children. (But spare another thought too for those few noble fathers who care for their offspring alone; without the services of absent mothers. Okay, Okay ladies, I know that is relatively rare.)
So how come so many hundreds (?) of “single-parent” moms?
I myself from six months old to thirteen years grew with a grandmother throughout childhood. I knew little of the presence of a mother or father. Somehow I missed neither; so selfless was my extremely caring grannie. But I did pledge that my own children would experience my married presence non stop. As I succeeded with that personal promise I would often contemplate “single parent” mothers today.
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Mothers with present /absent fathers
Obviously, it is manifest how significantly – and to me, negatively social, religious and moralistic values have changed over recent decades.
From the nineteen-fifties to, say, the seventies, single, unmarried mothers would be a shame faced, even marginalised lot. Strict religious norms did not permit and looked down on unmarried mothers. (Pregnancies were hidden; even aborted!) But times and values swiftly changed, metamorphosed.
Well-educated, professional young ladies delayed marriage, even if pregnancy loomed. The poorer working-class girls themselves without solid homes and parenting – fell victim(s) to wine, men and song. Economic need and two three ”chile fathers”, rarely loyal, helped to produce a society of “single-parents/mothers”.
Full exploration of the single mother absent father local phenomenon would take several columns.
But I’ll easily risk a wager that in Guyana today there exist more unmarried mothers than wedded moms. Check your thousands of vendors and security guards. I leave two assignments for those interested. As you celebrate mothers and motherhood on Sunday consider seriously the state of marriage as a social necessity or humbug. And research Mary, Jesus’ Mother, as a “Single Parent”. I’ll assist soon. (Do absent fathers produce indisciplined children??)
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A note on slavery’s warrior women
Again, this is a fascinating subject for our younger journalists and feature writers/researchers.
During slavery and Emancipation (1834-1838) we read of the roles of all the male Rebellion Leaders. Expected! But consider what the females of those times endured as existence or as punishments. Imagine bringing forth children whilst being a slave woman. I read of Kofi “employing” a European female as secretary and probably companion during the year long 1763 Revolution. How accurate?
Historians James Rose, Verene Shepherd and Alvin Thompson in February 2013 lectured about “insolent” slave girls and woman being brutally punished by both Dutch and British Slave Owners.
Yet during anti-slavery struggles the women of Clonbrook Plantation supported their 1823 rebel partners. From jail they waved handkerchiefs and jeered “Nigga mek backra run today.” Then there were Susanna of the 1827 Demerara uprising and the defiant slave-amazons of Fort Zeelandia and Plantation Duynenburg all “united in anger” at their exploitation. Research young historians, research!
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Our NIS: What insurance? Or security?
It is easy for me to be subjectively personal about our National Insurance Scheme. For even though I had to contribute from its inception (1969) I still don’t feel my pension is right! But this is not only about me.
The Burnham concept of a National Security/Citizen Insurance Agency was sound. But for decades NIS management, investments and exploitation were the agents of its own failure.
After I happened to actually hear V-P Jagdeo criticise the PNC administration for the Scheme’s near demise, I also heard Volda Lawrence’s response to him on the issue. All I’ll record here is that I’m overjoyed that the NIS is now in the national spotlight. Can’t this “debate” result in remedies? What a worthy candidate the scheme is for Oil Revenues assistance indeed!
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Those GECOM Chairpersons
This is just to recall the names and personalities – and sometimes robust controversial contributions of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairpersons.
As I brace for expected contention to surround a new voters list and all the other related issues regarding imminent elections, I smile when I consider that all GECOM heads except Brigadier Granger’s Patterson were subject to bi-partisan choice, yet attracted the rancour of most opposition parties at some time or the other when defeat loomed.
Just who would want to head GECOM as presently constituted? Strong principled persons? So pay tribute to Sir Harry Bollers (really?); Edward Hopkinson (local government elections); Rudy Collins a virtual hero of the 1992 elections when “free and fair” were neither concept nor practice known to my PNC comrades; Doodnauth Singh, an enigma of a chairman to me; Joseph G. Singh, the army chief who experienced a political entity most distant from army discipline; Dr Steve Surujbally a brave and principled veterinarian who tried and succeeded at a thankless task.
The first lady chairperson, retired judge Claudette Singh recently passed through an inglorious baptism. She is not given to speeches. So I’ll withhold further comment for now.
Except to repeat: If Jesus Christ was appointed GECOM head the PNC would find fault with the good Lord’s decisions. Ho-ho-ho!
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Ponder… What!?
● 1) An economist just predicted that we’ll never have enough skilled workers to man an oil-economy. The remedy?
`Til Next Week!
