Opposition watch

Dear Editor,

As part of my opposition watch, and larger political interest, I came across four media items on Thursday. They tell of so much that is wrong, the norm, and usual in Guyanese politics, to which a smattering of the extracurricular is added to spice up things.
There was a letter from an honourable member of the opposition, carried in both SN and KN. There were two news items involving a big fat cheque deposit and a captured ‘fowl thief’, compliments of KN; and a matter initiated in the people’s house by another honourable member of the opposition that was struck down rather unceremoniously, as reported by SN. Before proceeding, I invite my fellow Guyanese to speculate upon my thinking and attitudes when I speak of honourable member from any political party. For purposes of clarity: any member of any political party, and the sheer delight I derive in addressing them as ‘honourable.’

There was the good in the letter in SN and KN. It spoke of the return of the over-the-hill gang, some of whom are clueless as to what and where Guyana is. They are that far gone. The honourable member named names; I don’t. Suffice it to say that it is a real geriatric brigade. I am pushing some numbers, but some leave me far behind, in days and mental acuity. But they are back. Some of them named and unnamed left under a haze and return under a halo; the unreconstructed are the untouchables. Get used to it! For the only political scoundrels present in this town are those from the PNC. So say PPP rogues, who by their actions condemn themselves. These people look Guyanese in the face and lie. “Deh cud ray-lee lie.” I applaud the honourable opposition member for justifying his existence and earning his keep. Unprecedented.

From the good, I dabble with the bad. The Hon. Speaker of the House (there I go again) slammed the door on some motion for a name change with some ministry. Good Lord! Where do we get these people from, who go shamelessly public with such bizarre priorities? Surely, there are other matters, many matters, of greater importance that should be prioritized than something as inconsequential as a name change? I recommend damage to the environment and the welfare of the Indigenous people. I recommend a little focus on the devastations of alcohol on that community, its economics and political predations. I recommend some commonsense and stop wasting space, time, and taxpayers’ money by these embarrassments. Stop saying something for the sake of appearing to do something.

Then, the good and the terrible was followed by the ugly in “dah” million-dollar deposit. By the way, that is not local but foreign money. Somebody hit the big time, and I swear it is not me. Trust me on this one. Please. “This is more than what dah song she: tell meh weh yuh get da monee from…” Forget about source of funds and all those AML hypocrisies, as I am not concerned about clearly criminal land deals. Those who take a different tack, better tell me (and the nation) since when anything involving the political (PPP or PNC or newcomers) is not criminal. I am waiting. It is the talk of the town; not the old disco on the old High Street, but on all lips wondering what they have to do to get near that kind of US dollar windfall.

I too smart to tilt at those kinds of windmills. Great country this Guyana is. For here I am a slave for decades in the big money Wall Street canyons, and the world passed me by. That would be the bigger money world of hustling, buying and selling Guyana. I missed out, but there is not a speck of regret. Kudos to opposition people for being way ahead of me in these departments.

In fact, kudos to all Guyanese politicians, be they PPP or PNC, or whatever, as the last news piece attests. The fourth piece, a joy of a news item, came from KN. The title tells the tawdry tale, which for the enlightenment of dumb Guyanese, (sorry, learning challenged) is shared here: “Suspected ‘fowl thief’ nabbed in Sussex Street canal.” I hastened to look at the accompanying picture, expecting to see a local political figure. It was a coiled serpent, which is the same in every respect: sibilant defiance; underwater; silence; and slimy slickness. If that is not inseparable from Guyanese politicians, then sue me. I rest my case.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall