Dear Editor,
The PPP has a huge problem. It concerns the support base in the diaspora. Long-time party supporters are now openly coming out and verbally assaulting PPP leaders and the party as a whole for what they consider gross incompetence. A man, whom I shall refer to as ‘The Big Bird,’ bought a huge scales of justice which he placed where he once had some PPP memorabilia. Without any signs of remorse, he now points to the scales of justice and says, “That is my party. F…g it.”
Another one – let us call him ‘Goose’ – will not allow anyone to mention ‘PPP’ in his presence. Any positive or even neutral comment about the PPP elicits amalgams of cuss words that I never knew existed.
I ran into Goose and The Big Bird recently at a wake in Silver Spring, Maryland. As people in the diaspora know, the funeral wake is now a major social institution. It offers the opportunity for an on-the-spot town hall meeting, where folks discuss politics and the latest news at length.
Goose was in top form. He outlined a fiery attack against Gail Teixeira who was in Washington just a few days ago. In his view, when you listen to Teixeira, you would never know that Guyana has any problems. Here is a typical salvo from Goose: “Mi f…ging tired fuh hear huh-much bridge and road dem bill; huh-much water and lite dem put aan; mi waan dem talk about how the gunman dem a f…g-down Guyana, and nah fuh tell mi huh-much rice and suga di country produce and, wen PNC bin-een, how things min bad.”
The Big Bird, who was decked out in an all-American Fourth of July outfit, said he wants to hear nothing like, “You all must come back and help develop Guyana.”
“F…g dat. Ketch Fine Man and then call mi sk…t.”
As the two men moved from one line of attack to another, others were nodding their heads like decoration dogs on a dashboard. Like Goose and The Big Bird, most of the men were once unfailing supporters of the PPP. Many are from one of the greatest PPP strongholds in Guyana. Some have the photos of President Jagdeo and Prime Minister Hinds on their walls at home. But one thing is unmistakable – these people are truly upset and are saying that another party must be given a chance.
One Comrade, Dhal – yes the term is still used – tried his hand at some intervention on behalf of the PPP. Dhal reasoned that the bitterness abounding demonstrated the extent to which the movement to destabilize the government was actually working. He suggested that one of the tactical aims of the insurgents is to destroy the confidence people have in the ability of the government to provide security in the country. Even before Dhal was finished, The Big Bird plunged in with another massive “F…g dat.” A few comrades stepped in and said – “Ow buddy, leh the maan talk nah; staan saafrie lil bit nah.” So Dhal rapped up stating that the gunmen must be dealt with within the law, and that terrorism all over the world is posing the same problem for democratically elected governments. He also mentioned that the Bisram poll found that the PPP is still popular, and that President Jagdeo has support all across the country.
Goose would have none of it. “Poll nah run country,” he said. The Big Bird was more elaborate. Here he is: “Skinny did not escape; he was released. The PPP must attack these problems head on. They pretend that the gunman dem is a small problem, but when they minimize it, they trivialize it.” One last thing said The Big Bird, “The government does worry too much about cricket stadium, hotel, Mash, and Carifesta, while the country is being destroyed.”
It appears that this is a growing phenomenon in the diaspora. Reliable sources from Toronto, New York and Orlando have told me this in no uncertain terms. At first, many thought it was the “AFC people” and “Ravi Dev people” doing this at political meetings. The cuss-down batting line-up, however, seems much deeper. I hope the leaders in the PPP take this seriously.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Randy Persaud
