“Night of the Generals:” Inside the corridors of dark power in Guyana

Sep 19, 2010 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

A day does not pass in this country without a nasty act of power madness. It goes on and on and on. There is no stopping of the fascist train in this tragic land. In every realm of life in Guyana, the fascist tentacles of a government, long out of control, can be seen.
Just name it, and the power madness is there – trade unionism, education, health, police operations, national institutions, the media, the banking system, the financial structures, the entertainment industry, the entire public sector, Parliament, the army, ERC, GPL, GWI, Forestry Commission, University of Guyana, Bank of Guyana, the procurement process, sale of state assets, sports, the municipal councils, the judicial foundations, road transportation – you just name it and there is no democratic instinct on display, just good, old fashioned doses of cruel authoritarianism.
It did not happen overnight. It got worse after the 2006 elections. The creeping fascistisation began long before the last election. The nation saw its growing tentacles and we remained unmoved. We watched as it spread its venom and miasma and like sheep, we were silent. It is out of control.
Long before the fateful day of the next election, it will subdue and humiliate the entire population. What more is there to see from this out of control authoritarian train? One evening recently, I said to all those present in the Kaieteur News offices that we may reach a stage in this country where the oligarchs will go to parties and entertainment events and if they are interested in your female relatives, will order their senior details from the security forces to bring the ladies to them.
They will choose who they want and there is nothing the society can do. If you remonstrate, the vindictive hand will visit you in the night.
Last year I referred to the movie, “Night of the Generals” about Nazi Germany and made comparisons with the powerful cabal in this land. This is a stunning movie about how fascist elites behave in a dictatorship.
The Nazi generals and party leaders committed any sex crime they wanted to and were immune from prosecution. This is not just another run of the mill commercial film of Hollywood. It is a superb movie with a powerful political message. That message is that dictatorship has no logic, the power-holders lose reason and rationality and sooner rather than later the rulers commit all sorts of insane acts and remain above the law.
In one scene, Omar Sharief, a professional policeman, went to the office of a Nazi general, Peter O’Toole to arrest him for the sexual brutalisation of a woman. O’Toole was amused. He took out his Luger, shot and killed Sharief.
Many scenes in “Night of the Generals” mirror the rule of the elites in Guyana. Don’t forget, the Canadian Immigration Board granted refugee status to a 14-year-old rape victim of West Coast Demerara because of fear that given the powerful people who raped her, her life would be endangered if she returned to this country.
Immigration consultant, Balwant Persaud, successfully argued her petition in Toronto and paid a high price for it on his return to Guyana. The generals in Guyana knew that Persaud had named for some of us in the media, the men who devoured the little girl and the really powerful figure who covered it up.
The long night of the Nazis is over but in Guyana the night in never-ending. What about a rape in Pradoville after a mother asked a general to take her 14-year-old daughter to her home but he took her to his home instead. Reminds me of the movie.
And what about the general who so tormented his secretary for sex that she committed suicide? And what about the general the public nicknamed “Killaman” who pistol whipped the little teenager because he felt his lover preferred the younger man over him? The escapades of “Killaman” definitely conjure up scene from “Night of the Generals.”
Editors, journalists, opposition activists and political observers, each have their pick when it comes to “Night of the General” scenes. One politician told me that for him the most disgusting moment was very late a night at a prominent hotel when a certain tall man was openly seen having sex.
A social activist said for him, it is the solicitation of homosexual sex from a 15-year-old boy by a certain public relation personnel. For me, it is the legal guy who told the nation he is a Minister of Government who likes to commit illegal acts.
Buy a copy of “Night of the Generals” and see what is taking place in Guyana in the corridors of dark power.

Latest News

“Night of the Generals:” Inside the corridors of dark power in Guyana

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 20th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

West Indies U19 Women secure first win, advance to Super Six with...

“We will have a similar approach”

Sam, Fernandes outshine competition at GCF/Moo...

Ramzan, Fraser pilot Demerara U15 to strong win...

Dave West Indian Imports gets Everest Cricket...

Interim leadership agreed to dissolve GCF...

Features/Columnists

Berbice and Jagdeo’s legacy

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Ministers and business ownership

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

“Night of the Generals:” Inside the corridors of dark power in Guyana

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 20th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]