Our performance as a nation is not so commendable

Dear Editor,

M Maxell is correct: ‘It is time for hard hitting commentaries on the Guyana condition…’ SN, August 4. Indeed so, too many things are adrift and the time is long past since we should have been doing so, and calling a spade a spade; we owe it to ourselves.

I sometimes get accused of muddling which I don’t accept. I try to write as objectively as I can, look at issues from all sides and say things as I see them. The trouble is there are many folks who can’t stand truth, are narrow in their thinking and will only agree with you when your thoughts mirror theirs.

I refuse to be manipulated like a puppet; my conscience dictates my views, and I do not just follow the opinion of the multitude.

For example, people asked my opinion on Minister Manickchand’s behaviour at the farewell function of the former USA ambassador, only to see if my point of view was in line with theirs. Some were disappointed, even became riled when I gave my views; they saw me as a “civic” – just like that!

This was when my simple take was that it was of no material interest to me and bothered me none whether the Minister went overboard as the Ambassador was accused of doing, and even cautioned someone seeking a visa, of the danger of the US embassy becoming aware of his Iranian pen-friend. Look, why should I be bothered? I present things from my perspective, like it or not. I have letters which are printed quite regularly in the Stabroek News, still many would tell me that they haven’t seen anything from me for a long time. Now, quite apart from the fact that the Kaieteur News for whatever reason doesn’t print my letters – why, I can’t say but that is their prerogative – the real matter is that many ordinary folks can’t afford to buy two newspapers a day, which highlights even more the policy of the Stabroek News not to print letters carried before in other papers as being utterly nonsensical.

Now, I have to say that I have really grown sick of our entire political scenario; seriously, our entire performance as a people, a nation, is not so commendable; in fact I don’t think our behaviour qualifies us to be so called. We are more a set of individuals each going about his/her own business independent of each other – definitely not as a people.

You see some sick disgusting things that go on daily which bleed you dry; it is as if people have lost their conscience, and are behaving like ghosts. You speak/write about them ad nauseam but who the hell cares?

The politics, the race game, corruption, hypocrisy, fraudulent politicians, rogue businessmen, contractors – even the little people seeking out a daily livelihood – all contrive to make you feel odd, a speck in the wrong place, a wasted dream! Then there are the feckless, uninspiring, basic political leaders who just don’t reach across and within the soul of the people. There is nothing to propel the people to a higher plane except their own little hustle; there is no nationalistic passion, or perspective as a people.

There is a saying that when the people stop dancing it’s time to change the music; as a friend of mind would say, “Deh cooking with smoke.” Look, it’s hard for anyone to deny that morality is at its worst ever, and this is something every politician knows; the mad craving for governor-general style houses and super model vehicles is all that matters. One of the saddest mind warps from the PNC era that has survived is that of former officials, among others, still living in denial. Worse still are those of the present-day regime, government officials/supporters refusing to see or admit that anything is wrong and seeing everything as perfect. This whole charade has caused many to lose hope; our ‘societal wheel’ is out of kilter. One gets fed up and utterly disgusted, and worse yet we are now at the mercy of an improved form of crime – criminals in police uniform.

And while I do not accept that we are beyond saving, it is indeed the devil’s job pulling ourselves back, though I have to agree that we certainly deserve our fate for we do show signs of lacking the moral fibre to be courageous. We become angry with each other at trifles and nonsense, things that hardly mean anything; even the very newspapers we submit letters to are many times reluctant to publish harsh, caustic letters, cutting out what in their judgement is not proper, and they know exactly what they are doing since they would hardly ever change a word of letters of a non-political nature.

Then you understand why some just look the other way and consider their own hide – I don’t mean those seeking political office.

But really the scenario is stifling, and once it gets the better of you, then you’ve got to watch out. Luckily one good thing that remains and which we can fall back on whenever the load gets too heavy is the luxury of the arts which we can turn to for some respite: delightful music, poetry, painting, sculpture, expressive books, etc, to get yourself back and avoid being ‘twas-up’ further.

Yet it seems as if we are under an illusion where at one moment things appear to be improving when really they are not, like the price of commodities which triple before you know it, overnight, making it difficult for the everyday people to cope.

But I must tell you there is a reckless foolishness that is consuming us and there is no collective positive action being demonstrated. Note that those in control are not too concerned, and we the citizens, are making things worse for ourselves and others by our don’t-give-a-damn, selfish ways which place us further in a terrible bind. Observe: pit-bulls are mauling people to death frequently, yet no stand is taken to halt it.

You see silly people – mostly young men – walking around with these fierce, vicious dogs, un-muzzled with a show of importance, feeling great. One fool had his unleashed trotting alongside him, causing everyone to divert and seek shelter until the fool and his animal were at a safe distance.

Commuters remain trapped by vulgar, lawless, uncouth minibus drivers with their dirty music blaring to a level of deafening, nerve-wracking madness, and in the face of the police who do absolutely nothing about it even though a law is in existence that prohibits such lawlessness. Why? The policemen themselves travel in them.

Funny thing is we do not hear of government ministers addressing these matters; they all appear oblivious to what goes on, locked in their vehicles, screened off by opaque windows. They couldn’t be bothered; they have grown accustomed to it.

Here’s another kind of foolishness that really triggers you off. A man doing construction on his house dumps a mighty load of sand dead in the middle of the road blocking off all traffic, cyclists and pedestrians included, without caring a toss about anyone as if the road belongs to him because he has connections and thinks he’s important.

This is the kind of lawlessness that screws you sick; this is the utter doltishness you see daily which totally outweighs the niceties and overwhelms the good/beautiful people amongst us. You try to turn a blind eye to them, but it’s hard, it’s so annoying, so, so…well, the paper wouldn’t print the word I have in mind. And so once more I ask what on earth is wrong with us? By the way, do we still boast about our warmth and hospitality? Seriously?

What’s the reason for this crazy, chosen path running on quicksand? This is the exact crazy mindset that is reflected in the senseless death of GWI employee Marvin Cumbermack shot five times for his own motor cycle. Our reality is that people are being murdered as if life is going out of style, and given what we are experiencing today, can anyone look me in the eyes with a straight face and say we are becoming a better people?

 Yours faithfully,

Frank Fyffe