A first for Guyanese

Jul 29, 2025 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

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Kaieteur News – For the first time ever, Guyanese are being treated like a long-lost love.  With all the wooing, cooing, and caring, Guyanese are made to think that they count.  What’s up?  More pointedly, what are their leaders up to, what games?  These games of oozing sincerity, humility never manifested before, this intimate mixing with the commonfolk.

Leaders who didn’t give a damn how ordinary Guyanese existed are now in their spaces, in their faces. Guyanese must feel good at being cherished now.  Further, the same leaders who mostly saw scant merit in the existence of the poor and afflicted of Guyana, suddenly have time for them, to say that they are here, care.  Leaders float from place to place, almost as if they are inebriated and freeing up on the drinks.

Put up a round for everybody.  Today all ah wee is waan.  They tell Guyanese that when it rains, they have been there with an umbrella.  And when this season of goodwill is settled, they will be there with umbrella, plus long boots (Wellingtons), plus Burberry rainproofed apparel.  Now, that’s caring, that is sharing.  This is the love of which I have long spoken about.  Love for the people.  Year-round and all around, and for all the people.  Saying that there is knowing of the pains and plights of the people is not enough.  Leaders must live those pains, do much more now that there is so much.  Where’s the beef?  Show them the money (love).

When neighbors are warlike, Guyanese bond in patriotism, nationalism, and jingoism.  The Guyanese people are first then.  When tensions ease, Guyanese must be the first to reap the benefits of oil capitalism.  Begone tribalism.  Unfortunately, during times of normalcy, it is back to the dissensions, divisions, and disruptions.  Guyana is well along in its own Hundred-Years’ War.

For many a long season, the poor masses of Guyana know what it is to be treated like the ugly duckling of lore.  Who are they?  Who cares?  Since the arrival of liquid black gold, Guyanese featured in the minds of political leaders for a joke, a poke in the eye.  Or kick and curse, if they dared to speak out of turn, write what went against the sea of rolling stupidity.  Their poverty and agony screamed at high volume constantly, but there was nobody to give them a respectful listening, or a caring hearing: look how much has been given!  Too damn greedy and self-centered these people are.  To hell with them and their poverty.  Cost of living! What cost-of-living?  Where is the poverty, who is hungry?  The men with the overflowing bellies, and the women with the ruddy glow of State prosperity, developed their new language, and it was that of the haughty and those in a hurry to grab more money.  In the Guyana of now, a million is a mint to those who walk on one foot, and fall apart from trying to find a daily meal.  In contrast, leaders and their gangs are rounder than a Rolls-Royce, bulkier than a cargo container, and richer than a money launderer and moneylender.

What has not happened in the last five years has been seen in the last five weeks.  Leaders, fellow schemers, are in the villages selling themselves and their wares.  The rust and mildew are obvious, and so is the stench.  They are in the houses of deities, selling their new religion.  Kindness and compassion.  Men and women mock god in his own house.  But worse, is the nausea at the antics of craven men and crass women, who discover that elusive quality called humanity.

During their invasions of villages and places of worship, the shameless regale the people about how much they have given, how much more they will do.  Abomination of abominations!  Spiritual men suck-up to political men.  Like moneychangers of scripture, they pawn and perform in the holy places, desecrate atmosphere and simple people.  All must always be welcomed into the sacred sanctuary.  But as petitioners on their knees only.  Never to pontificate.  No room, no occasion, to propagandize.

Look! listen, across Guyana.  Guyanese are hailed and haloed.  Somebody wants something.  Guyanese have given of their trust.  And what has been their lot?  Guyanese have donated their consciences, and what was their reward?  Guyanese have been pulled and stretched; tormented and unleashed against one another; and for whose benefit?  Now more is desired.  The slave had no life, the supplicant, the citizen, no standing.  But now the roles are reversed.  Once arrogant and ignorant men and women are coming, will keep coming, during this season of using, misusing, fooling.  Those who captured most of the money of the people now comeback for their hearts and their hand.  Spare a fingerprint.  This time will be different.  Don’t be suckered again, Guyanese.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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• Elections, GHK Lall, Guyanese, Politics

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