Dear Editor,

I refer to the letter of Nishard Williams in your publication of June 10th, 2008 and to some of the comments of contributors posted on the SN web page.

I am shocked at the comments your contributors have posted. Praising a graduate for leaving Guyana? How sad. How dreadful. How unpatriotic. A noble institution has broadened his knowledge and rather than make a contribution to the society that molded him, he high-tails it out and expresses some platitudinous comments of: “My heart weeps for Guyana” and “Those academics who stick it out there, my hats off to you” Nishard Williams is not an unusual Guyanese. He is true to his heritage of everything outside of Guyana is better than what is in Guyana. This is our history as a people. We continue to be outward looking and believing fervently that all is bright and beautiful outside of Guyana. Poppy-cock! He made two terribly weak comments, to wit, ‘No respect for the learned’ and ‘Unfair system’ both of which seem to be airs of arrogance at being a graduate. Why do we train our students?…of course to be ‘learned’ and of course to be the generation to succeed us and run our affairs and not run away. And what’s this about ‘unfair system’? that as a graduate he should join an elitist group to enjoy duty- free concessions? Pure arrogance. Sorry contributors, I do not share your accolades. The best description of Nishard Williams fits within Sparrow’s “Captain, Captain..there’s a traitor on board!” Here’s my favourite from Macbeth: “Out, out brief candle…”

Your faithfully,
Carl Veecock