How we conduct ourselves in regular life

Oct 12, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Many believe, I think, the worst of Guyanese leaders in Government and Opposition. Guilty, for it is justified. I highlight how we (you and I) conduct ourselves in developments from regular life: prudent, self-protective, managing expectations, and commonsense.
I focus on this country’s unholy trinity, the President, Vice President, and Opposition Leader, because as they lead and go, so do their attendants, including ministers, senior bureaucrats, and supporters. I present what we normally do, how we react, when faced with real-life challenges. I know so, because I am so too.
We have arm’s length relationships with intimates and strangers or their proxies. Business transacted, promises made and expectations settle in routines. It could be officially documented; affairs between family and/or friends; the intercourse with familiars or unknowns. It could involve money, property, goods, sometimes, the priceless intangibles of bonds; professional, commercial, or private. But what characterizes each opportunity or interaction, are huge elements of trust, as relationships dictate and as matters require, due to what is involved and how much is vested.
Trust and expectations, confidence and dependence are all inseparably involved in what is called ‘good faith.’ Many times, it is there, with the other ingredients ever-present. When it fails the first time, there is a pausing, a worrying. A second time there is a warning. And when more such faltering (individual or group) occurs, there is the alarming and flaring disgust from what is infuriating and insulting. Who takes a drink, a gift, an invite from such a betrayer? Not me!
My reactions usually are: “this can’t be happening”. This is neither accidental nor pardonably circumstantial. This is premeditated and crooked and of this person, I will have no part. No dealings since there is no believing or no trusting. There just can’t be; not after repeated falsehoods, evasions, disappointments. These are the everyday reactions and human protections triggered, when things go wrong and costly consequences result, because the other man believed in, relied upon, was tricked. No one cherishes the “sucker” label. Not even for brother or best friend; maybe not even for in-house bosom partner. When credibility is dashed, then any residual loyalty is shatters. Now I assert this: what applies to me is just as good for you, Editor, and any other reader. Remember all the time that this is on a personal, familial, individual one-to-one level. To emphasise: what is good for me is good for you. Perhaps swifter, maybe sharper, as applied by you.
I expand: this has been the record and history of Guyana’s political leadership across the board. They mirror, to the worst degrees, deceiving contemporaries. Leaders lie; Trick; Cheat; Hurt; Cost. Still, they make pretense at caring and having principles. I look at Leaders and dismiss them all: none trustworthy, all nakedly crooked. As political Leaders go, so Guyana goes. All Guyanese can go with them. Exclude me; I denounce them. Frauds and cons! Who still believes? Who is willfully blind? Who keeps going the same way? Real life, real situations, and the reality are of craven leaders and more craven citizens. Marx called them “rural idiots’, I settle for slavish.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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