Past sixty I am, but very young at heart. (I don’t mean physically.) However, perhaps, just perhaps prematurely, increasingly, I cannot cope with what I hear and see at the numerous live, popular – music shows and “concerts”, the real young revel in, these days.
Age and attitude have determined that I can no longer appreciate continually the exhortations and goings-on at these events. I now prefer the studio-produced music and performances. And selected music videos.
Now take the recent super/mega concerts offered during Guyana’s Carifesta Ten. With my mentally-young heart I ventured up to the stadium to experience one of the big ones. All the others I saw live on television.
To me, there was this sameness – bordering on repetition and monotony. The Masters of Ceremonies say the same things over and over for the youths to comply, which they do, especially if fuelled by drink or spliffs. “Somebody make some noise!” “Put yuh hands together!” “Put yuh hands in de air!” “Get yuh Rags in the air!” “To the right! To the left!”
Clean fun even if monotonous? And it’s really for the young? Not for the Fenty age-group? Okay, I take that point. But I still want to make this point: even as I still appreciate much of today’s Reggae/Dancehall/Soca music, I contend that our Guyanese youth, because of an emphasis only on that genre, are woefully limited and one dimensional, in terms of music appreciation.
I illustrate that latter belief through these studied observations. I looked at the faces and the reactions, even the puzzlement and wonderment of young onlookers at certain dance and drama presentations by Carifesta artistes. You could see the struggle to either comprehend or appreciate certain nuances. Admittedly, there was a surfeit of dance. However, I saw early boredom amongst the youth. Frankly Speaking, their appreciation of the finer arts was zilch! What a pity. Limited sensitivity and sense of humour, drama, literary or intellectual fare results in the typical grossness displayed by the ignorant these days.
Mental, creative dullness numbs appreciation of the better things life has to offer. The result is that even life itself becomes cheap. The young, the empty restless and the dullard bore, maim and kill all too frequently.
Let Carifesta Ten, which did expose the unfortunates to an array, a kaleidoscope of drama, art, poetry and comprehensive creativity, be the national springboard for a true cultural renaissance.
Basics for criminal networks?
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is to be commended, most highly, for two approaches in this, the post-Fineman phases of the crime fight.
One, they are making it quite clear that all is not well out there as yet. Two top criminals have been eliminated but there are numerous AK-47s still around in the hands of trained lieutenants!
Secondly, they are now using intelligence gathered to pursue the network support the top killers received during their years-long rampage. This latter operation is laudable as it sends the message to the unlawful, that those who assist and sustain murderous banditry are as guilty as those who actually pull the triggers.
From my layman’s perspective, I suspect that there are specific basics or elements which comprise criminal support networks. For the big cocaine cartels such vital operations need the raw materials, the facilities to “refine”, the couriers, the specific market and distributors, “appropriate” accountants, lawyers, transportation, safe-houses, crooked cohort cops and customs officers and socially-acceptable “fronts” – like clubs, sports organizations and charities.
It’s easy to see therefore that these drug cartels are akin to those legitimate business corporations of the world. That type of crime is indeed organized and well-structured. “Professionally”.
The lower-level, but equally heinous, Fineman networks, no doubt, require: safe-haven houses in the village; willing needy relatives; taxi drivers; supplies of arms and ammunitions from dealers, crooked cops and soldiers; weapons-training by crooked ex-soldiers of varying ranks; occasional political support and direction; good criminal defence lawyers; suppliers of foodstuff and basic household equipment; female support pretence at a religious rationale and, in some instances, supportive journalists.
Discuss the above. And with our good cops all success.
Contemplate, cogitate…
“My mother is white, my father is black, but I am black/African” Discuss.
I’ve just read some compelling views about the sugar industry, the role of GAWU and the approaches of GUYSUCO and the government. I must explore all of this soon.
The lady official from the Caribbean Sex Workers Coalition wants sex workers to be recognized, and for what they do, to be called work! Work – Pleasure – Risk – need-Prostitution – Professionalism. Discuss.
Are Guyanese who live in the capital, Georgetown, destined to dwell, forever in a stink, badly-drained town? Can’t this country ever acquire one scientifically-managed solid Waste Landfill? Is there some high science required to, remove derelict vehicles, for example? Are we doomed to migration for “cleaner pastures”?
I think I’ve succeeded in offering my shortest piece today. Without even mentioning it…
‘Til Next Week!
Comments? allanfenty@yahoo.com
