Frankly Speaking

I realise that, most likely, it is because I am at the cusp of plunging into the heart of that demographic that is the Guyanese elderly that I return to this theme almost annually.

To his socio-political credit, David Arthur Granger, whilst on the pre-May 2015 Election Campaign trail did visit and interest himself in many hinterland communities at a very personal level.

Whether the reason or cause is personal economic hardship, innate disrespect for honesty and the law, greed or some disdain for (hard) work, there are parents or guardians who will knowingly accept stolen items generated by their younger relations.

I suspect that it’s because “hope springs eternal (in the human breast/spirit”) that I return to the issue of the status, role and effectiveness of our Guyana Police Force or Service.

A powerfully-worded letter by Mr Clairmonte Lye in this past Sunday Stabroek (Aug 21, 2016) motivated my short lead-piece today.

Attention Vice-President/Senior Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine. Attention Minister Nicolette Henry.

This is brevity today. I promise. But every ten months or so I find reasonable cause to comment on our local trade unionism.

-An Emancipation/Arrival nugget Taking a break from our local stresses of life here, I venture to comment on the burgeoning globalised ballistic stress that is terrorism.

Various countries and cultures and the United Nations Organisation all define what they deem to be the World’s “youth”.

Believe me my (more regular) friends, after today I’ll do my utmost to avoid this theme and issue for an extended period.

Earlier this year I was moved to comment (twice) on thoughts and issues of identity and belonging evoked by the poetry and other declarations by Ms Ryhaan Shah, Indian Pride activist.

– Suspending democracy sometimes? You may consider today’s offering as one of my (briefest) “time-out” pieces.

Quite often, when guilty, immoral or indifferent persons are confronted with deeds or thoughts which are negative to good order, to righteousness, even national development, they slink and hide behind one mantra: “It happen everywhere, not only in Guyana.”

A brief visit to two of Georgetown’s Magistrates Courts was enough to re-trigger my years-long consideration of local administrators of legal justice in our homeland.

I am aware of the United Nations’ definition of human security.

-The Anniversary Broth: Too many (new) cooks?Some years ago my column containing some of the following sentiments was titled, in part-creole, `Aftuh Gawd, is Police!’

In terms of “Independence Regrets”, I’m repeating sentiments I’ve had published elsewhere in this newspaper.

You all know that it’s almost a personal “policy” not to join roaring debates on current national issues, as I prefer to defer to those with superior qualifications and experience.

 -‘It was always illegal’ Two small up-front points: I’m glad I actually purchased a Guyana Times this past Sunday (I’m not too much a regular); secondly, what follows is as much a testimony to my fascination with other people’s Indianness in Guyana, as it is a brief nano-summary of my continually-delayed enlightenment on the issue, the phenomenon, the complex matrix of (a) people’s origins, history, culture, religion, ethnicity and generational lifelong bond.

The American “Solidarity Forever” trade union battle song was meant to say it all: in unity there is working-class strength; strength to negotiate workers’ rights even though there should be no need to have to “bargain” for just rewards.