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A feeling of déjà vu

Mar 21, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
It was a feeling of déjà vu reading Mark Archer’s letter, “A fear stalking the land” (Kaieteur News March 18th), was like taking an excursion into history, with phrases like “People are afraid to speak or show their support for opposition candidates because they fear…”  and “This is the state of affairs in Guyana today…”
Not only “today”.  Much the same was said about the other major political party when it was in power. “The more things change, the more they remain the same”.
My four-year stay in Guyana in the mid-90s was at times unnerving, at other times irritating, by the reaction of certain groups and people when they realised that I knew the Hoytes personally. I was particularly puzzled – but not unduly upset – when a neighbour and her family, with whom I had a good relationship, suddenly gave me the cold shoulder.
A long time afterwards I realised why. My late dear friend, Joyce Hoyte, told me that she visited me one evening, when I was not at home. My neighbour, her family, and her visitors saw her, so, with general elections looming, they probably assumed our connection was political and marked me as “a political enemy”, to be kept at arm’s length.   While in Guyana, every Guyanese returnee I spoke to assured me that local politics was a no-go area for them: they had been warned by friends to steer clear of politics.
For what it is worth, the Hoytes and I never, ever discussed politics. Joyce seemed always conscious of, and sensitive to, my bi-racial origins and knew that I could never “take sides”.  That would be a betrayal.
Besides, I was aware that both races had their pluses and minuses. I guess politics – and politicians – the world over operate in the same way. Relationships could be destroyed overnight by being on “the wrong side”. In the workplace, the trade union has more or less the same image of spite and vindictiveness.” (Incidentally, I just read a humorous
titbit about Bill Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, and a Texan sitting next to her on a domestic plane flight.  When she asked his views on politics, he answered: “Ma’am, I’ve got three problems – Obama, Osama, and your momma”. (Sums it up, US style)
Geralda Dennison

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