Readers – and my Editor – could recognize relative “time out” with this offering today. So expect some urgency. But what is this about the Sunday Stabroek on the third Friday this April?
Not long after my Saturday night outing organized by COVID, I picked up Stabroek on Sunday (April 11) rather “late”: after 1.00 pm But oh boy, oh Comrade, did I get my reward. Maybe it’s just me. However, Sunday Editor somehow captured April 11 my interest, my intense attention, after some time. The variety, the scope of the paper’s stories – news, facts, foreign, local, opinion – made me a satisfying literary and journalistic dinner for the rest of that first day of this week. This is what I mean. Oh – admittedly – a completely personal perspective.
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International, Regional, Political, Social
All four of our major Sunday newspapers naturally have similar news from foreign sources – stories and, often, features.
Although I have a fairly open, objective (?) Mindset and appreciation for most journalistic endeavors here, I have reason (s) to be a part of the Stabroek. One is the standards of excellence of its almost traditional editorial writers. “Editorial” is accepted as a virtual voice, opinion, position, even the philosophical character of the newspaper. There are no disclaimers from publisher or directors. But I’ll come back to Sunday’s editorial.
The foreign news on Sunday included more on the death of Queen Elizabeth’s husband in Britain – the 99-year-old Duke. It’s a pity that he has “run out” a bit short of his century. However, the threat, the possible destruction of St. Vincent’s La Soufriere volcano meant much more to me. Understandably (?), The Queen had drawn too much sympathy for her family of the Caribbean Commonwealth Member State.
COVID-19’s ongoing attacks on various countries, including India’s huge population, were updated, along with Guyana’s challenge to prevent attacks by the Brazilian whose society was being raped by the pandemic. Poor us.
In local politics last Sunday’s editorial featured a powerful editorial, `Bellowing in the wind, ‘which firmly analyzed the status, modus operandi and dubious effectiveness of Granger-Harmon’s political / parliamentary opposition. . current jobs and methods.
Then Ralph Ramkarran’s provocative column on the right of registered citizens to vote – wherever they may be resident! Recall the debate about the foreign vote?
Sunday’s socio-cultural pieces made me various personal “contacts”. A “teenage mother” baby died in a drain; saying goodbye to Colin Ming and my old acquaintance Neville Williams; and Dr Ian McDonald’s pursuit of “Excellence” was juxtaposed against Stanley Greaves’ tribute to Hylton Lewis, 102, my late uncle’s friend and colleague.
I’ve left sport and crime out because for me, Frankly Speaking, Sunday’s Stabroek was a positive feast!
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SAGE opposition voice?
I qualify now as an henster, to remember that Sidney King – now Eusi Kwayana – is called “Buxton Sage”. Probably for his alleged “distinguished political wisdom” in the fifties / sixties.
Now SAGE is today an Association for (Promoting) African Guyanese Empowerment. I bet he embraces the new weekly Village Voice that features some Opposition-friendly intellectual writers stripped of just being ambitious Young Turks.
Funded by a few known solid sources, the newspaper emerges with the usual objectives, incentives, promises. It is to be welcomed. So far. I have to procure my own copy. As I recognize some fellows who are returning “home.”
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Governments as criminals
From time to time, I have considered the extreme reality of government (s) members finding themselves guilty of crimes bordering on corruption, even fat and sometimes outright criminal behavior.
Their Oath of Office makes them “solemnly declare” to “bear true faith, loyalty”; and will serve the People and the Constitution “without fear or favor, affection or ill will.” (What’s wrong with affection?)
What elements drive men who were once decent to use a high office for their own selfish and greedy activities? I won’t bore you now with three or four basic obvious answers, reasons. Corruption begins in the mind. A high office presents opportunity, temptation, even evil. Cash offers and long-term assets easily attract insecure politicians without any outdated morality. (My own nourishing morality has left me in need. And proud in my honest poverty.)
For too many governments of all shades opportunities for long-term financial comfort and insurance must be grasped.
Recall the Brigadier-President in 2015 approves generous advance pay raises for all top officials and senators. Today the PPP fellows are using the Auditor General’s Report and other methods to find that the early pay rises and all other wonderful allowances and benefits seemed never enough.
No wonder a young female columnist was moved very recently to declare, without fear,: “There are men, from the governing party, the opposition and other small parties who have a known history of violence ranging from pedophilia to financial abuse. And very little is being done about it. ”Wow, young woman journalistic courage! Experiences?
And she wasn’t done there. Writing about Guy-ana’s recognized Drug Trade “industry”, as well as widespread local substance addiction, he took time out to “explain” why governments’ “drug wars” are failing: “This is not much. because of the links that many government and private sector contacts have with the drug trade … ”Guyanese shades of Mexico and Colombia?
Oh well! In many countries – democracies or otherwise – the lack of morality and the attractiveness of self-preservation at the expense of taxpayers drove perpetual evil. What? The appearance of oil and gas here will guarantee 24-hour surveillance? Ho-ho-ho.
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Think about these …
● 1) The Burnham GNS – Guyana’s National Ser vice – was not a “curse” as the Sunday Stabroek letter writer described it. Lots of pitfalls but more chances! I decide whether to take part in the debate.)
● 2) The $ 5000 fine for not wearing anti-COVID face masks is authorized by by-laws?
● 3) Is Minister Todd about to appoint the four Afro-Guyanese to lead our foreign missions?
`Till next week.