A sexed up picture: An address to the returning graduates

Sep 08, 2010 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

A contact in the Office of the President facilitated a meeting with the 93 returning graduates from different universities around the world. I requested the favour after I read what those students were told at an official address at the Cultural Centre. They were lied to. They were manipulated into thinking that the government of Guyana has secured a future for them. And the ugly, bald picture of Guyana was sexed up to present a rosy picture.
I thought I would use the words “sexed up” because its usage in journalism has become widespread after a BBC journalist used it in making an accusation against the Tony Blair Government on a British intelligence report on weapons of mass destruction possessed by Saddam Hussein. My address took place at the same Cultural Centre. Below is my delivery.
“Good afternoon to all of you! And welcome back to your country. My talk will take the form of a direct confrontation with the address made to you last week in which you were told that the Government has shaped a future for you, but sections of the media want to deny you that future. Let me get one thing out of the way before I present the ugly balance sheet of those who want you to believe there is a future for you in this country. The leaders of a government that have not accomplished any meaningful progress in a nation will inevitably resort to fooling its people. And since there is nothing to show for the years they have been in power, they tell you that the cause for that lack of progress is an irresponsible opposition. In the case of Guyana, a sheepish opposition lies dormant, so the independent press is blamed.
Now for my direct rejection of what you have been told. You are all educated people and will be familiar with the scholarly method we call the comparative context. The comparative context is an indispensable tool in arriving at answers to life’s questions, whether in science or in human society.
At some point in the life of all human beings, he/she will make a comparative examination or used the comparative context. Knowledge comes to us when we use the comparative method.
Here is an example that comes easily to mind. In 1960, Guyana stood out comparatively speaking among Third World countries in terms of its GDP and GNP. The comparison here is with Malaysia. In 1960, Malaysia’s economy was inferior to Guyana. Thirty years after, Malaysia is ranked alongside the most developed nations in the world.
It is when you take your country and stack it up against other territories then you see if there is a future for you and if other nations have achieved their future long ago. So I would urge you to use the comparative method as you live and work in Guyana and when you do, you will see how poor we are despite 47 years of Independence.
At all times, I would urge you to hold up your country against others if you want to see how much we have achieved as a nation. I remember when I attended the last general meeting of the Guyana Press Association at the refurbished Theatre Guild, I sat next to Gordon Moseley of Capitol News. I told Moseley that I have seen high schools in North America where the drama house is larger and more modern than our only theatre.
This is what I mean by comparison. I am not saying that we should not be proud of the Theatre Guild, but it is when you acquitted the knowledge of how poor is your country then you know you have to strive fanatically to catch up.
The perfect example of that was in 2005. I went looking for an encyclopedia in the University’s library. The shock was so great that I had to write about it. The latest edition of the encyclopedia was dated, 1979. That wouldn’t happen in any high school in Trinidad or Barbados muchless Europe.
So where is your future that you have been told will be mashed up by a certain section of the press? I urge not to take what I say as gospel.
As educated people go out there and look, examine, see, feel for yourself. See for yourself what future you have in your own country. Take a walk anywhere around Georgetown and tell me honestly, look me in the eyes, and honestly tell me in which of the countries you studied the capital city is as dirty as Georgetown.
(To be continued)

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