Dear Editor,
Mr Gerhard Ramsaroop’s chiding remarks on the contents of some letters supposedly emanating from one Elizabeth Daly, in which she/he engages in a rambling and accusatory attack upon the patriotism and intellectual capacity of Tarron Khemraj, was entirely on point (‘Defensive posturing and a lack of respect for the common sense of Guyanese’ SN, July 3). Daly’s responses to the learned and enlightened critiques of Dr Khemraj amounted to sophomoric generalizations, tired and abused political clichés, and what can only be described as a slew of hubristic and immature accusations. We do not know much about the qualifications of Daly vis-à-vis the subject of economic theory and its applications. What we are in no doubt of, however, is the fact that Tarron Khemraj is a patriotic Guyanese who has earned a PhD in the field under discussion, and is a long-time academic instructor in an American educational institution.
The problem with many of these virtually anonymous keyboard warriors, many of whom are dispatched for the sole purpose of proliferating propaganda, is that all they bring to the discussion, sometimes under an assumed nomenclature, is designed to create a false image in the mind of the readers of these missives. And since everyone and his brother has long become hip to this political subterfuge, the condition that influences or encourages its continuation can well be described as chronic obtuseness. And even that is stretching a euphemism.
Daly, in one of her/his letters, and obviously infused with narrow-minded anger at the time of writing, took umbrage at Dr Khemraj’s remarks about “my country.” Yep, “my country” was the exact term s/he used when responding in one piece to the critical examination of Guyana’s economics by a learned and qualified Guyanese, whose roots and attachment to Guyana are as long and as strong as that of Daly and all others of like persuasion with their narrowly defined understanding of the meaning of ownership. Clearly Daly is labouring under the weight of some defect of reasoning or rationality that prohibits a basic grasp of some constitutional realities. That, in fact, Guyana belongs to all of us, and time and distance does not alter or in any way vitiate that connection.
Many have written about the sense of proprietorship with which some in the PPP seem to relate to Guyana, and from where they react to Guyanese who do not parrot the sterile establishment talking points. And this is obviously a product of a sense of triumphalism from constantly coming out on top in our perennial ethnic referendums. Well Daly et al need to understand that Guyana is not ‘theirs’ it is ‘ours.’ We have all, by virtue of ancestral heritage and disparate contributions, paid the cost to be boss, in terms of having our say in the affairs of our country. People like Tarron Khemraj went the distance in terms of educating and qualifying themselves to speak on issues and subjects. I would argue that his Guyanese experience and academic qualification in the subject matter makes him eminently qualified to prognosticate on where we are heading given the creaking sounds emanating from the gears in our current economic vehicle. I am wondering about the foundation for Daly’s expertise. Certainly not as a prohibition on her right to have her say, regardless of the subject matter. No, my wonderment is merely about the foundation of knowledge she stands on, and by virtue of this position, feels qualified to summarily dismiss the opinions of someone very qualified to discuss the subject matter.
Yours faithfully,
Robin Williams
