‘Joe the Plumber’ eats duck curry

Oct 30, 2008 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

Go back to the past issues of the PPP’s newspaper, the Mirror, and read what the then PPP leader wrote about the PNC Government’s hosting of certain events like Labour Day, etc.

The PPP back then told its supporters that if it were not for the boom-boom box and the drinks, the crowds would have been thin and no one would have paid attention to President Burnham’s demagoguery. I lived through those times and I know that tone was true.

Guyanese are West Indians who love a good time. They went to a Burnham rally to enjoy themselves. As they say in common parlance, “They weren’t checking on Burnham.”

After sixteen years in power, the PPP’s emulation of the Burnham style is not almost a total; it is a hundred percent. You name it – the running of Parliament, the control of the University, buying out of political opponents, the politicization of the civil service, the ubiquitous party card, the subordination of the state media, the authoritarian abuse of power, the violation of the Constitution, the bread and circus syndrome – they are all there as they were under Burnham.

Back in the eighties, Burnham didn’t dare hold a celebration to mark some kind of event and invite people to go to listen to the speakers at City Hall, Bishops’ High School, etc.

Burnham would not have taken that chance with a low turn out. The Catholic Standard would have mocked his diminished credibility.

It is the PPP’s time to incite Guyanese with the boom-boom box, food and drinks. The PPP celebrates Papa Cheddi’s birthday, Mrs. Jagan’s birthday, the significance of October 5, the anniversary of the day Cheddi got elected to Parliament in the forties ,etc, but they would never take the chance and shape the event in the form of a symposium at City Hall or Queen’s College. Always, it is a big fete at the President’s Residence, Red House, or Everest Sports Club.

Food is in abundance, the children can swing on the merry-go round, the first two bottles of beer are free, a barbecue chicken goes for as low as two hundred dollars (because the food is donated from solicitations from businessmen too afraid to refuse; one businessman was offering me ten free barbecue tickets out of 25 he bought. I refused them of course) and the string band will pump up the volume when the drunkards decide to gyrate on the floor.

These leaders would appear foolish if they reminisce on the so-called greatness of Cheddi Jagan or the so-called importance of October 5 in the form of a lecture.

For all his greatness, no one would turn up to hear about Papa Cheddi’s life. Guyanese people should not be misled into thinking that the circuses are a true reflection of the popularity of the PPP leaders.

Maybe the PPP monarchs fool themselves when they turn up at the festivities and see so many people frolicking. But if they are smart they would know that the revelers aren’t ‘checking” on them. They just want to have a nice time, West Indian style.

An interesting thing happened three nights ago in the US election campaign. It was so intriguing that the Democratic Party bosses showed some concern.

Barack Obama addressed 100,000 persons at a rally in Colorado. This was about 96,000 more than what John Mc Cain got at his rally in that state. At the end of his speech, Obama urged the crowds to go out and vote early.

That night in Colorado about fifty polling stations were opened long after the rally was over but there were no voters. It simply meant that people went to listen to this, unique, charismatic personality.

They wanted to see and hear him. It did not mean that 100,000 Obama voters were present that night. PPP leaders would like you to think that the flooded lawns of State House are made up of all PPP supporters.

The PPP has now added a new twist to their planned circuses. Over the years, some small business people invented a novel game – duck curry competition.

This year, with a new PPP presidential candidate lurking around the corner, the PPP will be the sponsors of the duck curry competition at the Everest ground. They moved in and took over the people’s territory.

Here is a party presiding over a country that is falling apart but they have time to spend energy (not money; bet your last dollar all the ducks, curry powder, cooking utensils, drinks and tents will be donated by fearful business men just as in the PNC’s days) to organise a duck curry competition. Joe the Plumber will be there of course to get his political capital.

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‘Joe the Plumber’ eats duck curry

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