The games Guyanese play

Dear Editor,

Many who take Guyana’s politics so seriously that they commit heart and soul to it, end up losing their minds. I came uncomfortably close but am grateful that higher callings returned swiftly. I say this because anyone who thinks that Guyanese politics possesses the positive, principled, or constructive are living a full-out lie and making utter fools of themselves. As I review our political proceedings and the related characters and behaviours, there is this immovable conclusion: it is a game. Nothing more, nothing less, and all that counts is winning, which is the only thing.

I read of men pretending to the national interest, lauding the grandeur of the CCJ’s ruling. I take my hat off before the CCJ. As for Guyanese political men, I laugh at them. I do so because I remember what others forget. Not too long ago, sometime before the no-confidence motion, I recall local political bigwigs praising the CCJ uttering harsh words about the CCJ. The same was said of CARICOM. In essence, each has to prove what they stand for, what they are really about, deep down. Wrapped inside of that I detected this, to which I limit myself: the refereeing could be one way only: ours. It is that or damnation. Otherwise, integrity and credibility would not be assailed. They clap at getting a call that goes their way. I agree with the call, not their games.

It is the same favourable or critical and dismissive postures, in the instances of CARICOM and GECOM. They must do as bid, as willed through sheer force of propagated rightness, as defined by one side or the other. And the armchair army of worker bees stand for things in this domestic political game in the same unerring manner. If it is in favour of us, it is good; if it is against, then it is of the corrupt and the conspiratorial. Lovely people we are; aren’t we! Winning at all costs, I call it, even when such means running over the honestly disagreeing, delaying whimsically, and coming up with concoctions that are pathetic and infantile, that even children would summarily dismiss what is, at best, a schoolyard game.

I watch from an increasing remove our elections in this country, and I observe largely unprincipled men (our politics attract and drag along similarly made up women) lose whatever slivers of decency, of integrity, that they may have once had. They did not start out with much, but that was all that the Guyanese game of politics required, with the lesser the better. In that way, the wrestling in mud and gutter could be relished even more. Rather disgustingly, I also behold many in this society, people I once thought of harbouring some dignity and thoughtfulness, surrender willingly and enthusiastically to the tribal bugle calls that gurgle from the cesspit. This is what we call politics and elections and governance, and we love it.

Proud racists preen on slippery slopes to rationalize the irrational; believers profane their sacred teachings to blaspheme against what is right; the learned abandon education to defend the indefensible, and all shed their skins and jump into this death dealing game. Slick men slice verbal hairs with battle axes grown blunt from overuse in the arena, while they gave up all pretenses as to ideals and truths, of diversity and inclusion. Just give what is desired; just allow to the victory pedestal. Let my people triumph, and none other. This is what sleazy players have gambled all and brought along their young ones to savour the blood and thunder in Guyana’s the rank asininity, the heart of Guyana’s racial political scrabble. Sometimes we call it political science; it must be of the kind propounded by the KKK or Machiavelli or some of our own unrestrained brethren on social media. Look at us! We are having the time of our lives, as we cavort nakedly before the world without shame. This is what is cherished and cheered.

After the waste, the spotlight is on GECOM. That means one person: the chairwoman. What will she do with whatever report is delivered to her, if any? Any way she moves or goes, she is Delilah and Jezebel and the mother of them all: a serpentine elections Eve; a floor crosser. In Guyana, that is worse than a cross-dresser. I pray for her. She, too, has had her share of heckling and cursing, when her calls have not gone in anticipated ways. Now in this game of ours, she has to make the biggest call yet, of her life possibly; in a matter of mere months, she has lost many good years.
Now the game has one round left. Somebody will be knocked down. This nation could stay down. It is all part of the game, the games Guyanese play.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall