The beach, two gates, justice and a banana republic

Aug 19, 2011 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

Funny! Very funny! Mark Benschop and I didn’t break down anyone’s gate but we got arrested and charged. And for an offence that carried a small fine we were jailed at the uncivilized Brickdam lock-up for three days and two nights. Do you know the first night of my incarceration I shared the same cell with the guy who is jailed for piracy nicknamed “Long Hair”?
Mr. Clement Rohee of goat-ain’t-bite-meh fame has lambasted “Long Hair” after his escape. But after chatting with “Long Hair” in the Brickdam lock-up, I wonder how much of what Rohee said about him is true?
So Benschop stood in front of the gate of Le Repentir Cemetery during the garbage crisis and I just came along and for that we got arrested. Now if I am not mistaken the Ogle airport is public property. Mr. Mazhar Ally, son of businessman Yacoob Ally was named in the press by Ogle airport officials as the driver of a truck than rammed the gate and damaged it after he was refused entry. The gate looked pathetic after the damage judging by a photograph in the press.
Mr. Mazhar Ally’s father, Yacoob, was the pilot of a Cessna aircraft registered in the US that landed a year ago (on August Monday) on the 63 beach that was packed to capacity because it was a huge holiday on that particular day. It was only six months after, that the Director of Civil Aviation gave the press a statement that Yacoob Ally had permission. Well at that point, the wealthy Guyanese businessman was exonerated from any wrongdoing. The focus shifted to the aviation authorities.
This country, of course, is one of the world’s comical banana republics. How can aviation authorities offer permission for a plane to land on a beach where thousands of holiday revellers are doing their thing? Of course there was no investigation. There was no discipline. Yet last week, President Jagdeo was lecturing young people – that the Government transported to the Convention Centre – about how bad one of our past Presidents was, Forbes Burnham.
I’ve got news for Mr. Jagdeo. I consider Mr. Burnham a better Head of State/Government than him by millions of miles. Mr. Burnham would have been enraged that a plane could land on 63 beach where thousands of August Monday picnickers were enjoying themselves. Both the pilot and the head of the aviation authorities would have been sent to where Benschop and I almost spent Christmas last year – the Brickdam holding cell.
So far, no charges have been instituted against Mazhar Ally. I wonder if Benschop and I should really go and breakdown a gate that symbolizes injustice in Guyana if they will lock us up again?
The company of the Allys, Air Services Limited is in conflict with another business outfit at Ogle airport and it wants an official investigation. The company’s chief spokesperson is Ms. Annette Arjoon, known for saving the turtles. My thoughts were on Ms. Arjoon last December when Benschop and I were jailed for protesting the garbage disaster at Le Repentir. While in the cell, I asked Benschop if Arjoon should not have been trying to save the humans that live next to the dump as she does with turtles. Benschop said he knows Ms. Arjoon might come around to it. She didn’t.
The gate story at Ogle came a few weeks after some NIS inspectors were allegedly manhandled at the worksite of a private company. Of course, the NIS employees will have their version as the company will. But it is the police that should come in for some torrid criticism. When the matter was reported to the police, they took a long time to reach the scene. It does send a frightening signal to the bulk of the population. If the police cannot react immediately to a cry of help from NIS inspectors then will they ever listen to the ordinary man?
While these things are happening in a crazy banana republic named Guyana, the Guyanese people are being serenaded by the little fascists who want to be re-elected to government so that the banana republic can have more of the fun, more comics, more circus, more of the men on horseback in their oligarchic-starched uniforms who can do what they like with the resources of the banana republic.
The thought of re-election is frightening, especially to the young women. If they can behave like Rasputin before the election, what would they do after they win? Fate can intervene. It always does.

8 thoughts on “The beach, two gates, justice and a banana republic”

ndnauth August 19, 2011 at 11:03 am

I do not agree with lawlessness, of any kind.
You are mistaken – 1. Ogle Airport is not public property.
2. I was at 63 beach, the plane was a water plane and it landed in the ocean, not on the beach.
1. colin e August 19, 2011 at 3:48 pm
  
  HOW CAN YOU NOT AGREE WITH LAWLESSNESS AND THEN FOLLOW IT UP WITH A LAWLESS COMMENT?
  1. ndnauth August 20, 2011 at 9:07 am
    
    Please help me by indicate why pointing out mistakes/errors in Mr Kissoon’s article is “LAWLESS”.
Norman_McLeod August 19, 2011 at 2:33 pm

Mr. Kissoon, the difference between you (and Benschop) and the Ogle incident is that you were deliberating defying (legal and civil) authority. The Ogle transgressor committed the transgression when police was not around; I doubt if he’d do that again, now that guards are posted there.

Anyway, Freddie, I do appreciate the compliment – that I was a better President than Jagdeo; you are so right!
JuanMcLeland August 19, 2011 at 4:26 pm

Yes Burnham was a class act” if life is but a stage ” . Out of his dictatorship came that death blow to the Guyanese people stunted growth failed economy . How quickly we forget . Jagdeo is an elected president and will serve his two terms as the laws of the land dictates and will demit office when elections are held . Burnham brought us president for life . So he spoke and give gave speeches in Churchillian style where as Jagdeo speaking abilities is that of a street urchin . However the country is better off in terms of no food lines and the endless hardship of the Burnham years . One wonders when historians compare the legacies of these two presidents which one will prevail . Historians and not propagandist operating under duress.
Guest August 19, 2011 at 4:49 pm

as the saying goes only in Guyana
andy August 20, 2011 at 7:14 am

Freddy got it right this time.
dannyvid August 20, 2011 at 10:33 am

Dead man talking