Anthropocentrism- what is that

Feb 17, 2024 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

Kaieteur News- Anthropocentrism. What is that? Is that some rare exotic creature, like a platypus? Anthropocentrism is a huge word, but one that has much meaning for Guyanese, so powerful and vigorous it is, but isn’t so at all. To unravel the mystery, I reached for a doctor, and collided with a few of them all at once. One is a tinkerer, the other is a hoot and holler man, and another high roller. For sure, there are other good doctors in the PPP scheme of things, but they can no longer think for themselves, differentiate between right and wrong. Best to bypass those worthy Guyanese. Instead, I reach to those other big, bright brothers for help, but grasp at straws.
Anthropocentrism: the word hangs in the air. It is not going anywhere, except in the wrong direction. In its simplest translation, anthropocentrism means putting the interests of the people first. Guyanese people, that is. Unfortunately, PPP Government leaders have put the interests of the party first, meaning, staying in power. Yeah, Burnham may be gone, but paramountcy of the party lives on, this time it is the sinister PPP version. I laff at their wrath.
Instead of the interests of Guyanese people being prioritized, PPP leaders have prioritized the interest of capital. Instead of the hopes of the Guyanese people being made to stand supreme, those crumble before the calculations of foreign people. Invested capital, it is called. In a real country with real patriotic people, there would have been a real ruckus. In one breathless phrase: where is the money? Guyanese are asking their leaders the same question, but are forced to settle for second best, third string, fifth wheel status. In creole lingo: jaine the line and bide yuh time. Tricky leaders speak of massive revenues up the road. Some scaly, crafty politicians are sending Guyanese on a wild goose chase, while steering their minds towards the future. The future is now, chiefs.
There has been much chatter and blubber about how ‘risks must be rewarded with commensurate returns.’ The long and short of that lovely American construction (by locals) is that foreign investors are raking in the profits, while Guyanese are counting their tears. It is a roomful of tears, and has nothing to do with that song made famous by the Drifters. This is real Guyanese reality.
Just reach out to teachers, abused Amerindians, abandoned Indians, ostracized Africans, and discarded Guyanese of mixed heritage. Add them up, and they form a sizable segment of Guyana’s expectant, but disappointed, population. Leaders were the picture of vigor and commitment, when they spoke of “murky” and “predictable” in the aftermath of Judge Kissoon’s Olympian adjudication, and those were all for the reassurance of foreign capital. As was said, “investors spook easily.” That shameless priority left Guyanese to face whatever jumbie circumstances delivered to their doorstep. This is what Guyanese politicians gingerly represent (and they are not only in the PPP): foreign investors, foreign capital, foreign priorities. They are the people that the PPP Government puts first, not the Guyanese people.
One ambitious PPP leader is in bad shape. He is doing brain surgery on the people (Guyanese) while their eyes are open, and it is for the joy and jump-up revelry of the EMGL people. There is racing to the courts with appeals in hand. Yessir, we have progressed from British Guiana to ExxonMobil Guyana. Who would ever have thought that an aspiring Guyanese luminary would be the first to run to the courts to overthrow the hopes of the Guyanese people?
I would not have. This is the ignobility to which party paramountcy and party duty push erudite men to, when the interest of the people is squandered, gerrymandered, and allowed to be plundered. This is where and how anthropocentrism is cremated and the ashes given to Guyanese to weep over. With leaders like these, who needs money, or prosperity? Now even the envious Venezuelans lineup for their pound of flesh (two thirds of the carcass) with this construct of Guayana Essequiba.
There is another musketeer of a leader, who is smart. He aint leaving no trail of words to point back at he; nat he, mammy. He wuk tings out in he hed, and wise enuff to keep he mouth shut. He sticks to numbers and presentations (and beating up the PNC). But there is a ton of foreign capital in the interior, and Guyanese have no idea as to what those people are really about, how many tons they are shipping out. I had mistakenly thought that Wall Street bandits were the best and baddest in the world. Then, I came back to Guyana. The PNC might think that it knows how to be slick. The PPP just knows that there are none better at the local con game. None.
So, Guyanese interests have been surpassed by foreign interests and the interest of foreign capital. Anthropocentrism is good as dead. Guyanese on their own. Like corruption, anthropocentrism has no place in local conversation, compliments of the PPP.
I comin to meh senses: ah jahin in wid Exxaan. Is dem deh pun tap, dem is de peeple who count. ExxonMobil means upward mobility for people like me. See, I am now a convert.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)