Bill Cotton/Reform

*Sunday, Bloody Sunday. Usually dead as a dormouse in uber religious(or pious) Guyana. Not the Sunday before CWC. The country was jumping. Well, nearly. Bill smelt out the parties at a mile

*First his visit to the new Peg-a-Suss, Buddy’s International Hotel down at Providence. Less a shell more life now that the international cricket circus is slowly, but surely, coming to town (Yet the nay-sayers still proclaim the CWC will switch venues from Guyana..).Poolside was busy. Them TV teccies must be on good exes to afford the rum prices. But then they have the lovely Balo to serve them. Fresh from his many years at the GT Club. Buddy’s gain is a Camp Street loss. Bill will keep going back to Buddy’s. At least some of the CWC partying will be there. But why still some teams at the granddaddy-The Peg-a-Suss? Bill is intrigued. Meanwhile in a Main Street near

bygone era. Bit like a dinosaur. Shame.

*Next stop for Bill – to Jagdeo’s Gaff – State House. His lawns were open to the PPP to celebrate Cheddi’s Birthday and to raise money. What a sight! Hundreds of people on the front lawn of the President. Compare and contrast to the closed exclusivity of some of the High Commissions abroad. Lal Singh should be sent a picture.

*The Cheddifest gave Bill a chance to catch up with old friends and enemies. Dem pretty things – Wanita, Delicia and Rada -, dem old comrades like Pec and Robert (wot no film crew?). Michael and Fuzz from GTNCN, Kwame (now a Presidential minder!) and Bharrat himself. He shook my hand!! I shall not wash it for a week