How did we deteriorate from polling station call to this?

Feb 02, 2020 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

How did a polling station comment end up everywhere, with a newspaper version of the Colin Powell doctrine of overwhelming propaganda volley(s) in a now regrettable exchange with the indoctrinated dogged?
The letter titled “Robin Singh’s response to GHK Lall” refers (KN February 1).
I thought what I had written was about calling out a senior government minister and an improper call for polling station presence, and there is the hurling of the now traditional kitchen sink, as practised by PPP boosters. I urge taking a page from me and be principled enough to similarly question their own.
It is instructive how the PPP machinery stuffs its champions with spiels that seek to impress with bulk and spurious bravado where brains are needed. They refuse to think for themselves.
There is disbelief that I am enlightened by a ‘taxi driver’. It should relay that I have no interest in imbibing the factory-built fare trotted out by party hopefuls, seeking to please their masters.
I have said publicly and repeatedly, I read the headlines of two papers and scan selected contents. I do so because matters are so predictable, so stale, and so repetitive that it is the same old story that leads nowhere, save to gain favour with handlers.
I would have thought that this citizen could read, would at least possess the sufficiency of memory and the depth of capability to recall that message. Thus, the taxi man, barbershop man, market man and honest working man are those listened to, since their native intelligence surpasses the dogmas and canned products bandied about as political insights by those striving for a place in the oil kingdom.
I have said repeatedly and publicly that I support the Coalition. In fact, three of Robin Singh’s political gods (I have none) saw it fit to quote from what I had written, in parliament no less, to support their fulminations. Thus, I fail to appreciate this business about “closet”. I recommend that his comrades pass on my wisdom to the Robin Singhs of the world, since they had to quote from a man, who depends on taxi drivers for his news snippets.
Incidentally, I would have thought that taxi drivers and others of similar ilk form the core of the vaunted proletariat that is so much appealed to by his political shepherds; sheep these followers are.
Then, somehow, we arrived at gold, and that I should resign as chair because of my support for the government. If that were to be put in effect across this society, we would have to import Venezuelans to man our public service. Because at any one time approximately half the population is so engaged, so involved, so inclined towards the government of the day.
Unlike me, they claim ignorance, innocence, and separateness mostly under the veil of silence. At least, the local world knows where I stand, without the usual pretending.
I see that my identification as a government supporter (voter) casts me out from the ranks of “independent” contributors”. I ask, what about all others? Do they not support and vote? Do they not have any iota of rumination and judgment in their heads? Do they not have a mind that differentiates?
By using the standard of this fine patriot, that means no contributors at all, since all (without exception) are sure to fail the standard levied against me.
Next, there was the Gold Board. Do Robin Singh and his political czar really wish to speak about the Guyana Gold Board? About the billion-dollar deficits bequeathed? Or about the endless legacy shenanigans, and which are desired to be perpetuated by his people?
I do not want to unnecessarily unhinge further his people, but I am thinking that the sum of the Gold Board’s story should be memorialised someday, if only to reveal the kind of governance that once prevailed there, and the cabals of conspirators, all comrades, who took this country for a ride.
Oh, that talk about mathematics and gold prices, that was what led to double-digit billion-dollar deficits that nobody acknowledges today.
Numbers were thrown about abundantly by Robin Singh, and yet when gold prices soared during his people’s time, there are only billion-dollar deficits. And that the selective application of regulatory requirements was the major underpinning that led to a banning (repeat banning) of gold exports from this country years ago.
I could go on, but I am leaving the powers to whom Robin Singh reports breathing space to save face.

I must admit that there are more propagandists locally than there were at Pravda; or three-card men on the street; schooling in the evasive, illusory, and biased without any conscience (or character) is obvious. No wonder that this country is where it is. At this rate, tomorrow can only be like today, and today the nasty, dirty repeat of yesterday.
I must consult with sacred texts to cleanse myself of the taints from this useless exchange; reasoning and sagacity have fled. Guyana does not need oil riches, it is already rich with oily performers, who make John Travolta, of “Grease” prowess, look like he has two left feet. It is time to move on to real people with real depth and who operate from a reality imbued with honesty.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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