Response To “Dem Boys Seh” On CXC Controversy

Sep 28, 2020 Features / Columnists, Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
For activism related purposes I have always used the Kaieteur News as a channel for my independent thoughts. Being known as one of Guyana’s independent newspapers, I have always pushed to publish my views on that platform, among others. Needless to say, I did not expect to have to pen this missive. But here we are.
My attention was brought to what are now two “Dem Boys Seh” columns in your paper. I refer to “Accept and Bless!” ( September 25th, 2020) and “QC and Bishops believe dem is de best thing after sliced bread”. After perusing through these columns, only two words came to mind: “Venomous” and “Carcinogenic”. However, it is my belief that the writers of those articles are dreadfully misguided and I am here to guide them!
The third paragraph of “Accept and Bless!” is as follows: “ De trouble start when dem from dem big school in the city refuse to accept dat dem can get low grade. Dem start fuh row and dem even get Aunty Priya pon dem side and fuh call de CXC fuh ask fuh review.” Now, this literary tomfoolery only seeks to spread a dangerous narrative. You see, I believe that the writers of this column are unaware of the phrase “gauging your performance”. If you know that you have entered an examination with a very good SBA score. If over 90% of the multiple choice paper comprises of repeat questions. I ask the writers of that lurid piece if they cannot at least accurately predict a range in which an awarded result would lie. Further, the issue is more than that. Many students have complained of receiving an “Ungraded” or “Absent”. A colleague of mine received two “Absents” for two exams which she wrote, and possesses the receipts to prove so. This narrative being weaved by “Dem Boys Seh” is a dangerous one and seeks to only confuse and misinform the public. The ulterior motive of that column was to portray the issue as “elitists who were sour about not getting what they were accustomed to”. The headline of their next column “QC and Bishops believe dem is de best thing after sliced bread” is only further testament that this is the vile narrative they intend on spewing. I say nonsense!
Moreover, let us take a look at the September 26th column, third paragraph specifically. It says, “So dem boys feel that is only because some of dem students from dem ‘big’ school disappointed with dem grades dat all this noise mekkin. Dem boys nah hear too much noise from dem ‘small’ school. QC and Bishops believe dem is de best thing after sliced bread.” How did this diarrhea masquerading as journalism make it past the rubbish bin? How did such a blantant lie find itself in the press? Editor, I implore you to travel to Port Kaituma. Go talk to the CSEC students and please drag the “Dem Boys” jesters with you. It is essential to note that the cries of these students who have been victims of flagrant discrepancies by CXC. Sixty two, and I repeat, sixty two candidates from Port Kaituma Secondary School received ungraded results in Mathematics and English. To add salt to the wound, twenty-one candidates received ungraded results in the Principles of Business Examination. Such results arise from non-submissions of SBA’s. However, the teachers have solid proof that these students’ SBA’s were submitted! They have the necessary snapshots to back up their claims! Editor, I challenge the “Dem Boys” hooligans to tell these frustrated teachers and students that they are lying. Oh wait, they’ll cover behind the cheap moniker used to purport such asininities.
Furthermore, let us look at the last line of the September 26th column. It reads “Talk half and ask yuh self ‘why only QC and Bishops complaining?”. I chuckle, but tug my hair confusingly as to how this inaccurate spewing made it to the press. A simple research will show that discrepancy related concerns have arisen in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica,
St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago in addition to Guyana. As of Saturday, September 26th, 2020 students in Barbados have moved to the streets to protest these fraudulent results near CXC Headquarters. I can pull up pictures of such protests from a simple search on Facebook. Couldn’t competent journalists do so as well? Editor, I urge you to caution the “Dem Boys” crew from writing such dangerous and fallacious writings in the future. I am sure that you remember vividly that it was a “Dem Boys Seh” column that caused Kaieteur and Adam Harris to pay $13M in damages due to a libel suit brought by Mr. Winston Brassington.
Finally, as it relates to the fraudulent results. “Dem Boys Seh” has added its voice to the numerous cretins who are laughing at our cause with the aiming of demotivating and demoralizing us. However, I will end by saying this: The clowns will laugh with their circus, the hyenas will go back to their hole. But we will fight this battle to the very end. And we will win victoriously.
Yours faithfully,
Nikhil Sankar

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