Concerning Letitia’s hairdo…
Please tolerate my brevity today. Twenty-seven (27) years ago I was genuinely proud to publish – with Police Commissioner Laurie Lewis’ collaboration – a crime prevention hand book for laymen/citizens. It was titled “Crime Watch Guyana” taking that name and theme from my Stabroek News series of 1994/1995.
The publication offered practical advice to all citizens and many specific vulnerable groups regarding the prevention of potential criminal activity against them – their bodies, property, loved ones. That production made me realise the vast nature and characteristic of the ever-present social phenomenon amongst us categorised by the description – “crime”.
As old as original sin itself, a basic definition of crime could be “an act or offence against and punishable by law”.
That meaning, of course, has long been too inadequate for the now far-reaching dimension of criminal activity in today’s society. Crime now encompasses deviation from socio-moralistic standards; national espionage and economic sabotage; hinterland piracy to sophisticated financial felonies; from rustling to counterfeiting to abduction to pornography and bigamy. Apart from the “usual”, everyday misdemeanours and felonies so well known to us all. And like life, like death itself, crime spares no class, no race, no gender, and no station in life. Everyone could be vulnerable, could be victim at some-time. Self- inflicted or not.
*****
Smaller world, big-picture (Guyana) crime
It’s human. Most normal and natural for us to admire, accommodate, welcome modern communication technology, cellular transmission devices and dramatic air travel. A closer smaller world yearning for all types of “modern national development”.
But those realities, welcome as they should be, also usher in the methodologies, the opportunities, the operationalisation for all manner of crime in good old Guyana.
From newspapers to TV, radio and social media platforms, you may – daily – inform yourselves about the gamut of crime and the criminal behaviours – crude unsophisticated and even quite “academic” sometimes – which face us as part of more normal existence right here.
I will forego the temptation to list a “basic” list of twenty. But just imagine a responsible national newspaper without any page devoted to crime. That will be hiding from reality or a publication of Sunday school or entertainment events. Crime sells!
I love giving you dear reader home-work assignment. (The old teacher in me?) `Til I return to this issue, consider: where are the church and old-time parenting where Guyana Crime is concerned today? Is our police structure capable of preventing, solving certain types of crime? Could “Restorative Justice” correctional approaches now assist? Why would young criminals not regard mentors and even crime- fighters? Until…
******
The “trouble” with contracts
As can be usual these days this week’s Tuesday SN editorial “State contracts …” beat me to it. But yet my perspective goes to details and constant monitoring.
I mean that, as fairly intelligent non-technical laymen citizens, let us get interested in even the crooked post-contract signings.
I want many of us to enquire about the details of the road to be repaired or constructed; the bridge or school to be built. The materials to be supplied; by whom? The contractor or sub-contractor? Who are they? How long before some Superintendent of Works certifies or not? Who is he/she?
Let us ask a reputable, non-political media cameraman to monitor weekly progress on the public project, or lack thereof.
Let us check with our own cameras, why the multi-million dollar building on the old GBC High Street lot is just there. How long will the new Cemetery Road thruway in GT take? Why so long? What’s the position with the Ministry of Health building on Brickdam? Millions upon millions involved. Let’s be weekly monitors Guyanese. (Even the brand new fire station has to “settle”)?
******
Letitia’s Love – and hair-do
What hairdo? She has her head of hair to my minimum!
Last Christmas Eve I was as “a very little fellow” When C.C.H. Pounder put me at ease for a nearly forty-minute, one-on-one chat. Google CCH’s fantastic movie-star accomplishments. (We must not “compare” CCH and young Letitia Wright! Just enjoying their Guyanese-ness and exemplary status.)
The woman that took a giant leap of a chance and actually married me fifty-six (56) years ago, never ever wore artificial hair-wigs, extensions, weavings etc. To this day her Afro-(Portuguese?) hair is lovely. After, say, ten years of marriage I loved her natural bouffant Afroes.
So y’all can appreciate how much I love Letitia’s boy cut. So simple a millionairess with faith-based love for her countrymen. No flaunting of wealth and material things. After the inspiration I just know she’ll organise overseas contacts for the locals.
(Ow, and y’all spare a compliment for our young President. Whatever his motive, Miss Wright inspires!) By the way, y’all ever heard of local politician Briga bobby?
******
Just imagine, ponder…
● 1) Just imagine! Christianity’s Founder – Jesus – was himself prosecuted as a criminal!
● 2) Next week: Inflated contracts – and kick-backs!
● 3) Will Europeans or Chinese fully accept that they were once all Africans
