…Perfidious Albion
Back in the day when Britain was colonising us natives right, left and centre, the rest of Europe dubbed them “Perfidious Albion”. They were a country never to be trusted: with them, it was always a matter of “looking out for number one”! According to good old, Wiki, “Perfidious” signifies one who does not keep his faith or word , while “Albion” is derived from an ancient Celtic name for Britain.
They continue: “Perfidious Albion is an Anglo-phobic pejorative phrase used within the context of international relations and diplomacy to refer to alleged acts of diplomatic sleights, duplicity, treachery and hence infidelity (with respect to perceived promises made to or alliances formed with other nation states) by monarchs or governments of Britain (or England) in their pursuit of self-interest.” Yup!! Expect “diplomatic sleights, duplicity, and treachery” when dealing with our erstwhile “Mother Country”!
We raise this matter now because Pressie’s presently presenting his credentials to the Queen and members of the British Government. Imagine Pressie meeting Queen Elizabeth herself!! The British government’s really pulled out all the stops to woo Pressie, haven’t they??. They would’ve done a background check and know when Pressie was a wee lad in short pants – he’d lined up with so many schoolkids waving the Union Jack in 1953 at her coronation.
Sent to the British Military school at Mons just before Independence, Pressie would’ve been totally inculcated into showing deference and loyalty to the Queen. Back in Guyana when she visited just before Independence, in 1966, would have shown the British Officers who headed the new Army how well he’d been trained. For God and Queen!!
But the question has to be asked: why all this attention to Pressie? President Burnham had stood much higher on the world stage after independence, but he was never been given this honour? What’s going on? Ahhh…no need to look further – Perfidious Albion’s at work!! Oil is in the offing and with Britain fulfilling the European’s long-held suspicion they’d betray the EU, she seeks to use us – once again.
When Britain needed their cuppa after the WWII – with sugar that had been rationed during the war – we signed the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement. And guaranteed them sweetness on Christmas Eve 1951. Wasn’t that sweet? We agreed to have the Agreement transferred to the EU in 1975 as the Lome Convention that was to last “in perpetuity”. Well, we got the stick from the EU in 2007…Did Britain intervene for us? Not on your life!! Rather it was the strongest proponent of slashing of sugar prices!!
Let’s remember Perfidious Albion when they seek a piece of our oil!!
…in Cricket
Well there’s hope for us against Perfidious Albion – and this was shown in cricket recently. For most of the past century, England ruled the roost over professional cricket through its control over the ICC. They then brought in the Aussies. Folks went along because that was how it “always” was. Until 2014. That’s when India- from where most of the revenues were now coming – flexed its muscles and demanded equality of the money with England and the Aussies. So much for “native unity”!!
Anyhow there was much gnashing of teeth among the rest of the cricketing nations – with some weeping in the WI. But like most bullies, the BBCI of India didn’t know when to quit – they teed off the Brits and Aussies with their escalating demands. The Brits in particular were miffed that a former colony was calling the shots.
And so just this week, they pulled the rug out from under India and had them cut their lion’s share of the take!!
The loot will now be shared more equally!
…in court
Isn’t the lawyer fella who wrote the letter, “No one should be charged or remanded to prison on mere suspicion” the one accused of diddling with some under aged girl over in Berbice??
Is he pleading early?
