Dear Editor,
On Friday last, I enjoyed that which must be considered the best ‘Link Show’ in years. Obviously a lot of work has gone into the production.
But allow me to comment on two aspects of the show which, to my mind, reduced its quality appreciably.
Firstly, as I have in the past maintained, satirical skits must reflect a significant quantum of truth and reality. Also, the producers must try to avoid the demonization of professionals and the besmirchment of an entire profession. The producers did not hold true to these considerations when they portrayed the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) as a seriously mismanaged institution with greatly uncaring staff. It is a total misrepresentation to project that the GPHC does not have even the basic elements associated with a hospital, viz syringes, needles, bandages, medicines, etc, and that sick people have to carry their own materials and medications to the hospital. Not even a semblance of such a characterization is true.
Also, it must be painfully heart-wrenching for those hard-working, caring nurses in particular, and the nursing profession in general to be depicted as callous care-givers with a don’t-give-a-damn-about-the-patient attitude.
Secondly, it is, I suppose, an integral part of a satirical show to target politicians. But to vilify and make fun of one politician constantly and relentlessly for 3½ hours is too much and just plain boring. Last year, I think the butt of the jokes for hours on end was Mr Kwame McCoy. This year the jokes were against Mr Rohee. Often the ‘comedy’ bordered on the vulgar. Ron Robinson, can get no kudos from me for perpetuating the myth and stereotype of a man who has risen from the realms of the proletariat to become a Minister of Govern-ment.
Finally, although I hold no brief for Mr C N Sharma, it was quite inappropriate for the text in one of the skits to blatantly and unambiguously state that he should be in jail. Let the courts decide this.
Yours faithfully,
Steve Surujbally
