MORE WHISPERS, RUMOURS AND NEAR TRUTHS

Aug 30, 2008 Features / Columnists

Bill has been partying till he drop. Here, there and everywhere. Let’s share some of the word on the street.

*His favourite moment ten minutes of sweet music by Herbie Marshall and Keith Waithe in an early evening session at the Oasis café. Simply Divine.

Carifesta needed a Fringe bad. Shame not more of it *The City Hall Folk Concert on Wednesday night was something else. Packed to the ginnels.

Hot, sweaty and full of vim. But too hot for this white man. Bill had to make his excuses to leave before he lost weight through sweat.

*Bill mixes with the best. He was at a small tête-à-tête curry dinner with a Mr and Mrs Walcott the night before. The man seemed to be some sort of writer. He seemed very Nobel about his work.

Bill last met him in a darkened curry restaurant in Coventry. This time not GPL’s fault. But what a nice man. He’s warmed to Guyana so much that he told Bill he’s coming back for two weeks next year. Masochist?

*The good Drs Anthony and Singh were there too. Looked very, very relaxed under pressure. Keep it up Frank. You playing a good game *After Walcott what next?

Bill crashed a party by mistake in the Water Chris. It was good fun. Half the PNC (Corbin faction) Central Committee seemed to be there.

Big up time for Basil Williams – as irascible as ever. Plus a Burnham son-in-law to boot: Bill will make that a full house next week in Oxford

*The last real Police Commissioner Big Laurie was there too. He was curious about those two senior cops and the crapeaus. He is and always has been a Big Bill fan. Cheques in the post LL.

*The Names just keep dropping from Bill’s lips. The night after repast at Phyllis Carter’s abode with Father Malcolm Rodrigues. What courage that man has to stay, fight and stay humble.

Phyllis is such a genuine welcoming woman and a great cook. Waithe was there too (Is he omnipresent-discuss?)

*And as if not sated, to a yard in Liliendaal to break bread (or roti) with Uncle Mo Aunty Sita and stellar guests. He knows such a range that man.

Mo’s Yard is always but always a good sport with such a Catholic range of people gathered. Shame about his neighbour’s local problem. Mo’s skills should be put to much better national use…

*Bill drifted in to the Ramphal launch and out again. Like good wine, book launches are best sampled with a small taste.

*Bill Cotton Works No 1.The very morning Bill’s coruscating piece on the anonymous art in the Convention Centre appeared, a man was dispatched with labels and sellotape to identify them?

Now Bill knows what they are. You do too…And News Update (as they say on Channel 65 – what News are they updating?), Friday they started to give out catalogues. One day before it closes. Assistant heads must roll.

*Bill Cotton Works No 2. To Petamber’s Book Gazebo in the National Park (a well kept secret) for Ruel Johnson’s book launch – Mark two.

This time he had plenty of books. Bravo…a little question about the Literary part of Carifesta X – when does organization stop and ego simply take over??

Why is it always the same people there? Are the (g)literati in Guyana really such a tiny group? Answers on a postcard please.

Bill will keep partying on your behalf. I call it work. You might not.
Pip! Pip!