Politicians are strange, irrational creatures

May 07, 2021 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

Politicians are very strange, irrational creatures. They don’t accept responsibility for their errors or failures on any endeavour even when overwhelming evidence is arrayed against them. How else would one explain the behaviour of one Amanza Walton-Desir in her uncalled for attack on Indians and the subsequent attempt to justify what she stated? Her explanation of Indian mental laziness only worsened the firestorm she initiated.
Politicians, except in White developed countries, are hardly prone to listen to, much less to accept, sound, time-tested workable, logical advice. AWD has not accepted that what she uttered about Indians can be construed as racist and is totally wrong. In addition, as a MP, she ought to know that her remark would be considered as politically incorrect regardless of how much she tries to explain it. So far, she has refused to own up to her faux pas and accept political responsibility. If a Portuguese or an Indian or a Chinese were to make a similar remark about her race, she would probably be up in arms and roasted them over burning coals. AWD shows no remorse. And she continues to defend her view or mindset about Indians. Regrettably, she gets unconditional support from her PNC colleagues including those who know better.
I watched the second video of Amanza Walton-Desir in which she excoriated the PPP for what she claims is an attack on her for her anti-Indian remark. If I had not seen the first video in which she called Indians “mentally lazy,” I would have thought the PPP did a grave injustice to the woman by attacking her unprovoked. It turns out; the PPP has not put forth a statement on her anti-Indian comment. Anil Nandlall rebuked AWD, but he did so in a private capacity not on behalf of the government or the PPP. AWD described those who criticised her as “acolytes of the PPP.” All of her critics, except one, including me are known to issue statements condemning acts or policies of the PPP and the PNC. Thus, they (we) can’t be ‘acolytes’ of any party. AWD is acting ‘wrang and strang’ to use Guyanese parlance.
Then AWD, supported by PNC MPs, went to the police to file a complaint against Haji Roshan Khan who wrote on social media that she should be “marked.” By ‘mark,’ Haji simply meant picket her peacefully wherever she makes her presence. That is not a crime; picketing is a legal exercise in Guyana except during the Burnham/Hoyte era. In White man country, one can picket anywhere without a police permit. Thank God for the White man who gives and protects our freedom. Instead of going to the police and attacking critics and PPP, AWD should express regrets and bring closure to the controversy. It is not too late to tender an apology including to Haji Roshan!
I read a social media post sent to me in which AWD was paid some $1.5 million monthly (salary, perks, gratuity, etc.) as a Project Manager at Civil Aviation during the coalition term in office. Can she verify that figure? I am told she is a lawyer; why was she in aviation and just what were her responsibilities for that kind of salary when aviation workers were not even earning $100K monthly?
David Hinds is among AWD’s avid supporters. He penned that he gives her unconditional support against those (PPP and acolytes) who ‘are lynching her’ (KN May 5). He is irritated by a caption (“… stand by Amanza’s … words”) of his missive (May 4). This supposed ‘lynching’ of Amanza is for her words not for the person. No one is criticising AWD, the person. They are going after her words. So how can David defend the person and separate her from her comment? Does he think the public are fools? He is an academic and ought to know better. One cannot defend the indefensible. Haji Roshan can act like David and say he is not marking AWD only her words.
At any rate, the use of ‘lynching’ is inapplicable to describe the critiques of AWD’s behaviour. Lynching was conceived in America to describe the killing (hanging or other brutal attack) of Blacks by White racists in the South for demanding equality or for looking or whistling at a White female or for some other innocuous, frivolous incident. Black Americans were unjustly murdered or ‘lynched.’ No White, no Indian, no one in Guyana is lynching AWD. She has lynched herself. She has committed ‘harikari.’ She brought the critiques unto herself by her racist rant.
David Hinds, Vincent Alexander and others in the PNC are circling the wagon around AWD. That won’t improve race relations. Myself and other rights activists had felt we could have a workable relationship and constructive civil discussion with those two esteemed African gentlemen and others on how to better race relations. Their defence of AWD has presented a serious setback to any move towards reconciliation.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram

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