Politics is like a nice funeral

Feb 13, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
The attendance at the funeral of the late popular businessman Albert ‘Bolo’ Joseph was undoubtedly one of the few largest to date, deserving of being held at the Mackenzie Sports Club – which is now seen as defacto most appropriate for funerals of enormous attendance of both popular and outstanding personalities who have served the community well, in one way or another.
I was not present, but from all reports the occasion was grand, a deserving send off with people from all walks of life in attendance, among them important personalities, members/heads of various religious fraternities; Government Ministers and politicians from different political persuasions.
Mr. Editor, this particular funeral, for all its well meaning; social bonding and sentiments struck me curious and jolted my memory somewhat. Upon learning about the presence of Government Ministers and politicians who hardly knew anything about ‘Bolo’ except probably his mere name; never had any kind of interaction with him whatsoever, made me ponder.
I do accept/agree that the manner one’s death could galvanize almost everyone – politicians’ et al to come together in solemn solidarity to give moral support and show of revulsion/condemnation against a mean act that snuffed out a life, and who would want to argue against that.
Still I couldn’t avoid it; this funeral brought to the fore a short story I read some years ago: “Funeral of a political yard fowl” by Austin Clarke, which told about the funeral of a common but very popular grave digger, and supporter of a ruling party who was stabbed to death during an argument over a dominoe game-Lionel.
I do not intend for this letter to be likened or compared to Austin Clarke’s story – I wasn’t there, its just that from what I’ve been told the story came back to me.
As the story goes the Government’s input into Lionel’s funeral arrangements was complete; so as to make it more effective and politically beneficial.
The Prime Minister ordered his entire Cabinet to attend – lead the procession and mingled with the mourners. They – ministers were told to get out of their cars about one mile from the main gate to the Cemetery and walk; “we will be killing two birds with one stone, showing our grief and concern for the small man, to which they all burst into fits of laughter.
The PM was very dramatic in letting his Ministers get it into their heads that, this is a political funeral, “we walking behind Lionel’s coffin out of pure politics and nothing more; that stupid bitch who couldn’t do nothing more than slam dominoes.”
This is not about he, is all about we. He further went on: “Be-Christ when they drop Lionel’s coffin in that hole; I want each and every one o you sons ö bitches to start crying.”
With elections around the corner, Lionel’s funeral was timely and well orchestrated to give them just the perfect start into another term.
“All this nice feeling, all this emotion should be captured with a colour television camera.
So satisfied was the PM at the end of the funeral that he uttered in pure contentment to no one in particular: “Politic is like a nice funeral – like this one”!
And everyone who witnessed it all said, “what a lovely funeral we give Lionel!”
Frank Fyffe

Latest News

Politics is like a nice funeral

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 10th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport endorses Mashramani Street...

Guyanese boxers shine in IBA World Rankings ahead...

Motie returns for Day/Night affair, as fired-up...

Daniel Singh pockets East Bank Pool crown

Khalil, Pollard and Barker reign supreme as BCQS...

Cricket West Indies passes historic governance...

Features/Columnists

Guyana’s silence represents a shocking neglect of its national interest

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Corruption – at epidemic proportion

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Politics is like a nice funeral

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 10th, 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 […]