Dear Editor,
It is worth saying again: this is one strange place, with many hilarities on any given day. I have found them so amusing, as to suggest (pilfering one from Reader’s Digest) that laughter is the best Guyanese medicine. Here are some.
A one-time bigshot called upon to face the music resorts to playing one of those playschool games from long ago: you go first. If you go, I will go. Leh we guh togedder. What sort of foolish childish nonsense is this? What is dis, a bellin ground story where peeeple friken jumbie and need company? The president is not under any microscope, does not appear on any radar. Nobody has ever (ever) associated this leader with suspicious activity, or with missing links, or dirty tricks. The main man is there all of three years, and not a peep even from adversaries. On the other hand, open mouth and story jump out from every roof, room, and rock in this country about this suddenly hesitant tremulous figure kneeling before the altar of public scrutiny.
Then, there is the matter of that expressive officer of the court now before the court. I must compliment him on his vocabulary; puts mine to shame. At least every Guyanese easily understood him: no Latin, no polysyllables, no fancy devices. I am even more impressed that a near baker’s dozen (not to be mistaken for the cinematic military one that is a little unclean) from the fraternity that rushed forward to demonstrate solidarity. With friends like these, who needs the law….? I would like to suggest to those well-dressed, well-heeled, well-fed legal gladiators that they exhibit the same alacrity in standing up for the small man, the poor man, and the wronged man. Pro bono sounds about right; free publicity. These Musketeers (all for one, and none for us) should exemplify the same on the burning social issues of the day. More media exposure. Further, they and the larger clique must be courageous enough and ethical enough to break ranks and speak out against egregious wrongdoings by their peers, brothers and sisters all.
Sticking with the same voluble citizen and his reported linguistic exuberance, I am going to have to tread lightly; smartly too. Having noticed the hash and exclamation marks and ampersand sign used in place of dictionary spelling to minimize the rage and range of language embodied in that endearing fusillade, I am duly forewarned. Curious citizens (some voyeurs), time and again, have wondered what initials (GHK) represent. I hasten to assure one and all that they are not code letters for nouns, verbs, or participles not to be uttered anywhere; especially in front of children, church, or decent society. Or Smart phones.
Since today’s focus is on matters of a legal nature, I stay a little longer. Mr. Christopher Ram must be applauded for riding to the rescue on that NIS issue. The man is tireless. That Ocean’s Eleven cohort should learn. This one is of particular interest as I have heard before the anguish of retirees who are left short and dangling due to the same reason: employers deducted, but did not deliver the NIS contributions. The failure of the NIS Inspectorate to police effectively delinquent employers ought not to land at the doorstep of the stuck, helpless worker. I suspect there might be a surge in those coming forward; a little cottage industry on the side for Mr. Ram, notwithstanding his overflowing portfolio of interests and endeavors.
Now here is a great big comedy that Eddie Murphy would have loved, and is straight out of Beverly Hills Cop (all of them). No sooner than His Excellency waxed clearly about “un-bribable” that a most entertaining episode unfolded. The initial story was of a gun pointed at an officer of the law’s head. This was followed by jail. Then that was followed by bail. Say again? Me and my friends concluded that this was one was over: signed, solved, and settled (out of court again). There are still some sharp folks around. For after a respectable interlude had elapsed, there was the officer sworn to uphold the law (no less) now stepping forward to declare that he lied. I hear echoes of that song, “You lie, lie, lie….” What a country!
Last, there is this foreign one that is close to the spirit. The Catholic Church in China is reported to have pledged allegiance to the Communist Party. You kidding me, right! Whatever happened to godless communism? And here I am making fun of the local commissars and proxies for the Kremlin. Cheddi must be turning over in his grave; he was three score and ten years before his time.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
