Dear Editor,
The February 3rd online edition of Stabroek News’ headline was terse, “Budget and bill to extract more from Natural Resource Fund passed”. As infinitives go the one employed by SN takes the cake. It was “to extract…” In this exploration, the focus is less on usage and mostly what it says about where Guyanese are.
In ruminating about “to extract” from the NRF, for some reason dentistry came to mind. To extract is to remove, to pull out, to yank out a tooth. I like yank out, which is more mandibular; and the pointedly proper withdrawal because it is oil money. To extract can be two teeth in extremely decayed and painful situations, and depending on the fright level and tolerance of the patient. But “to extract” also gives the impression that some teeth, lots of them, still remain. Will somebody help a poor, dumb Guyanese by enlightening him about what is left after this budget rubberstamps the soon-to-be-surgically extracted millions from the jaws of the NRF? Put me out of my misery by giving some comfort that there is a cushion of considerable dimensions still remaining after the PPP Government gets going full blast in heady fulfillment of its mandate “to extract” from the NRF.
There is no hang-up with the usage of “to extract”, but it just seems so pale, so tepid, so anaemic given that there is haemorrhaging of the NRF, and under doctor’s supervision, with unambiguous legal authorization to boot. Back in the day, there was that convention and standard of medicine called ‘bloodletting.’ As grim and gory as it was, I think it fits perfectly. Bloodletting is what is being administered to the NRF of Guyana. The medical logic leads to one conclusion only: the expectant Guyanese people are in for it, a torrid time.
The big trouble is that this small exercise wrapped up in “to extract” (or bloodletting) more from the NRF has not evoked so much as a peep, or a whimper, or any kind of outraged reaction from the great majority of Guyanese. Their trust fund is being primed for more raiding (now I have proceeded from medical practitioners to maritime pirates), and the citizenry thinks it most appropriate to exercise their right to remain silent. So, why the hell do I am even bother, when there is nothing in it for me?
Since this is the future and promise and destiny of Guyanese being drained and squandered (“national development priorities”), and they have nothing to say, I should take the hint. Lent is next week. Another sabbatical would be a boon to the PPP musketeers, my way of blessing the vaunted trio and companions.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
