The dignitaries are in town. Barred roads, heavily armed police, motorcades, blaring sirens and a protest accentuated this fact as the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) opened in Georgetown yesterday.
Trade unionist Lincoln Lewis (right) and social activist Mark Benschop (second from right) led a protest yesterday against the government outside the National Cultural Centre during the opening ceremony for the Caricom Heads of Government conference.
Thirteen Prime Ministers, One President, a Secretary-General and many other persons converged at the National Cultural Centre for the Opening Ceremony, and to witness as an elder statesman of the Caribbean, the Honourable Percival Noel James Patterson, the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, being conferred with the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC). When he walked on stage, the large crowd knew that it was witnessing a special moment and cheered. Patterson, as part of the award will be able to acquire land in any Caricom state and will receive a special travel document.
Earlier, sirens blared as the visiting Prime Ministers arrived to a red carpet welcome and steel-pan music. Police were out in their numbers and manned barricades as a small group of about 15 persons staged a protest on Mandela Avenue, just outside the Chinese Embassy. Chanting ‘Jagdeo must go’, among other slogans, the group, which included trade unionists, among others walked in a circle on the road and had to be cautioned by police to move off as vehicles passed.
At the Cultural Centre, the leaders, each led by a child, were ushered inside to the sound of drums, rather like medieval knights being led to a joust. Only it wasn’t and against the backdrop of a depiction of Guyana’s most famous attraction, the Kaieteur Falls, the ceremony began.
They spoke of Guyana’s generous hospitality, the “outstanding qualities” of Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Grand Anse Conference, twenty years ago. Then Prime Ministers, Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, arrived and their representatives were ushered off the stage.
“I feel very much at home here and it is wonderful to be back in Guyana”, outgoing chairman of Caricom and Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow said as he recalled how many years ago, he was struck by the similarity of the architecture of Georgetown and Belize. He quoted V.S. Naipaul.
At various points, as statements were repeated, some of the Heads, stared at something, looked up; bent forward, leaned back in the chair.
Loud snores emanated from one male in the audience; his colleague yanked the tissue covering his face and he left, probably to wash his face.
It was noted that Caricom states are “exceedingly democratic” and all the leaders were elected and the audience gave a cheer for democracy.
Antiguan Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer spoke on immigration and received loud cheers from the audience and the Heads. President Jagdeo noted that people are disenchanted at the slow pace of the integration movement.
When Percival Noel James Patterson, aged and seemingly a little frail, walked on to the stage, it was time for more cheers.
He shook hands with the leaders, hugged Gonsalves and current Jamaica Prime Minister, Bruce Golding and in a strong, steady voice and in a nod to his accomplishments, revealed that he had been infected by a “regional virus” and it was too late to find any cure. “This is a day which I will always treasure and never forget”, the statesman assured.
In the capital city of Caricom, under the July night, the elder statesman voiced what he noted was a widely held belief…that this Conference will determine whether Caricom states swim safely ashore or drown separately in the Caribbean Sea.
same bla bla bla, after that the will be back sleeping in their respective den.
dreaming who the hell needs one another, we can do it on our own.
As these heads, and leaders of islands and countries meets to discuss nothig and give platitude and gratitude to one another, things remains the same, it is good to see mark benschop and Lincoln Lewis protesting during this conference, this is what all guyanese who want change should be doing but they prefer to be humble like lambs taken to be slaughtered.
PJ is deserving of the gratitude bestowed on him. Nevertheless, the PROTEST must continue; JAGDEO MUST GO!
I am with you on that one.
more like continue to tread water while arguing with each other
,,those who embarrased themselves with their misguided shallow attempts to call for “Jagdeo must go” only makes it more convincing that the President is a democratically elected leader !… the protocols of a democratic gathering of such an an august body in GUYANA at the “crossroads” of the caricom movement at this juncture when the planet is reeling from a melt down in economic terms is the fundamental “reasoning” for this meeting to face the challenges of the people who they lead !..
They have a democratic right to protest, just like how guyana is a democracy.
Amen ,,,, wherein did i say they have no right to protest ????
truth be told ,, i would have been juss simply shame to be in any protess ,, wid 14 adah people ,, on a major event ,, such as dis 1 wah dem choose fuh protess ,, if yuh gon mek a comment ,, read an andahstan kfully b4 yuh shoot !…
anyway ,, i en feel a how ,, caz iz u…..
Headline should read “Massive protest lead by Lewis & Benschop”
Those that call the administration a dictatorship must now be witness to this.Two bold and barefaced activist protesting on the street of Guyana.That’s all I’d like to say on this subject matter.
Glad there was a protest. Where were the PNC and AFC. Guess dem boys in the Culture Center enjoying the air conditioning. See why the PPP can get away with anything. There is no viable opposition
brandon samaroo and the rest were late, the jet was reroute to barbados eh eh eh eh
SN what the hell you people doing, making your web very difficult to navigate, what is it about your name every bloody time you post a blog.
the whole design is stupid, was good 100% before
Er, the protest really wasn’t massive.
it don’t matter how small it is, at least they are doing something, it’s not the multitude that counts, the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step, remember that.
Small AX dose cut down BIG TREE.
I have visited the “Guyana Times” website on a few occasions. While I find the articles to be of good quality, the time consuming aspect of navigating the site has often caused me to stay away for extended periods. Of all the online newspapers in Guyana, the “Guyana Times” website is by far the most cumbersome. Examples of newspapers websites that are attractive and easy to navigate are:
http://www.stabroeknews.com/
http://www.thestar.com/default
http://www.nytimes.com/
http://online.wsj.com/home-page
http://www.ft.com/home/us
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.independent.co.uk/
Submitted for Guyana Times consideration.
i see Benchkop out protesting again:-)). I guess he like it in there.
Yes he likes being in there, at least he have the guts and testicular fortitude to protest, not like others who are scared and hide under their beds like cowards.