Dear Editor,
The Mahdia dorm fire resulted in 20 deaths (young and Amerindian), 2 SN editorials (`A travesty’ and `Feeble’), 1 Commission of Inquiry (a smoothie), and 1 minister (a heroine of immaculate proportions). The deaths scorched the conscience, the SN November 2nd and 4th editorials shifted the scales on the eyes, the Commission decommissioned itself of anything to do with the intestinal, and the Hon Minister satisfied herself with a show. Of strength. Of sheltering in place. Of getting on with business. I sift through, grapple with, some of these webs of conceit, and another word that rhymes which begins with a ‘d.’
To be unsparingly blunt, commissions should be banished from the consciousness of Guyanese. What utility, sir (or ma’am)? To that I inquire: what probity, what honour in doing duty becoming of responsible citizens? From my perspective, commissions for anything crystallize to these two elements: one, to put a sheen of deniability on what occurred; and two, to have one for the record (we had one, so there!) From Rodney to Linden to GECOM to today, I would like some enlightenment on one (one only) that gave Guyanese a sense of ease, the conviction that light was shed, some semblance of justice (or injustice) revealed, with the journey to closure given some energy. In some respects, COIs in Guyana have come to be twin sisters of the GPL. Blackouts rule, with the occasional little brownout gracing the proceedings, but only if there is less brownnosing. One of the first giving away of the goose in Guyana is the composition of these dratted things called COIs. I never like to compare what goes in the United States of Guyana with what is prevalent in the United States of America, but it might be helpful in this instance.
I stretch matters by equating Guyana’s COIs with America’s Independent Counsel arrangements. Great lengths are gone to in the United States in the selection of who leads the way. It is usually not someone known to be in the camp of those finalizing the appointment. Optics; not just done, but seen to be done. I leave things there. Thus, in this country, there is no expectation, only confirmation from the output of COIs. Of the mundane, the middling, and the mysterious. Mahdia has already followed that well beaten trail. SN’s editorials may have been mutedly critical; they could have been caustic, and stripped these damned things to their privates for Guyanese to see what they have, what they are getting, what will have to do when all is done. So as to derail any misunderstanding: the two editorials were fine and fulsome, but were frail in parts. Enter the minister.
That was not a letter, it was a dissertation, a CCJ submission. Defensive it was, and of the bureaucratic. It certainly reeked of advocacy from such a mindset. I read about who did what and when. There was the usual reminder and swipe of who didn’t. Doan look at me, look at dem peeple befour mee. If any Guyanese needed an education on Fire Prevention, there was the authority, the minister. Ah, but it has two aspects, both integral to life and limb, regardless of the heritage of the victim. There is hardware, which speaks for itself, and of that Guyanese have heard a mouthful, so I will withhold whispers on that score. Then there is Fire Prevention software. Now permit me, please, to share the answer to the question (what the hell is that?). Fire Prevention software is a three-pointed star consisting of attitudes, awareness of risk, and the value of life. Any one’s from any place at any time.
Awareness of risk sensitizes, smashes bureaucracy, reduces to tatters lengthy missives. Awareness of risk lights up a billboard (to borrow SN’s word) under ministers, officers, and the legions of available helpers. Awareness of risk places the highest premium on the value of life (even a denizen of the dumps down on his luck), which perhaps asks too much of those for whom politics is the alpha and omega. Lest I err, awareness of risk inspires real accountability. Admits to accountability. Assigns to oneself accountability, even when such may be a stretch, uncalled for, and somewhat improper. The last resignation that occurred in this benighted land, now made infinitely darker by crude, was when the departed left this earthly pale.
Last, SN wrote of principle. What may I ask is that species? Whither such creature in Guyana? May I be so bold as to ask SN not to use principle the next time in the same sentence when ministers and commissions are the subjects?
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
