…in crime
The old people say, “Wha’ sweeten mout’ does hurt (the nether region)”. Your Eyewitness doesn’t want to upset your refined sensibilities, but you know what he means, don’t you, Dear Reader? There was a time when many were chortling over the depredations by the criminal gang based in Buxton between 2002 and 2008. The gang called themselves “Resistance Fighters” and were supposedly waging a war on the PPP and the State on behalf of African Guyanese.
Veteran resident of Buxton, Eusi Kwayana had to flee the village because he claimed the gunmen were being directed by outside “political sophisticates”. Now, even though it was claimed the gang held the village of Buxton “at ransom” – and some reprisal actions demonstrated that – there was also clear evidence that quite a few villagers willingly aided and abetted them. Witness the several persons who were kidnapped by gang members and brought into the village in broad daylight.
But one chilling feature of the modus operandi of the killer gangs was their recruitment of children who were given cellphones and used as lookouts. The ideology of the “political sophisticates” seduced many adults into believing that the children were doing their bit “for the cause”. For the children it was all an exciting extension of the video games they played – only this time they were paid by the gangsters for their services.
Several of these older children – some of whom came from other villages – graduated into full-fledged gang members, as evidenced by their bodies when the gang members were gradually killed off. Remember Chung Boy, Mud Up and Sancho? So what has caused your Eyewitness’ rumination on this painful episode of our national history? Well, it was something Prezzie said when he referred to the gang’s “operating in 2002”.
Prezzie commented on the effects of the violence “on victims”, but he now placed on the national agenda, the effect on youths “who witnessed the crimes”. Now your Eyewitness always wondered how many of those “watch-out” youths had turned to crime when they got older – seduced by the easy money and the romanticisation of their role not as the bandits they were – but as “Resistance Fighters”.
But now Prezzie has him even more worried – since he points also to those who only “witnessed” the crimes. And since these crimes occurred all over the country, this might provide the explanation as to why violent robberies using guns have grown exponentially. These youths – now “youth men” – would’ve been exposed to the gun runners from Brazil and further afield.
Now that they’re of age, the chickens are coming home to roost.
…in local government
One of the biggest complaints the APNU/AFC Opposition had against the PPP Administration was their control of the local government apparatus via the Local Government Minister – who had control of the administrative appointments. They wanted such control to be exercised by a Local Government Council (LGC) which would be bi-partisan – and fairer.
The laws were duly drafted after 20 years by the PPP and duly signed into law by the APNU/AFC coalition. Now you’d think they would’ve embarrassed the PPP by immediately constituting the LGC, no?
No! The Trade Unions for LG have submitted their nominee, the PPP have submitted their three – and guess who’s the holdout? Go to the head of the class, Dear Reader – you’re right – APNU/AFC still haven’t proffered their four nominees. So after the talk about “removing Central Government yoke” from the neck of Local Government to return “real democracy” to the “people”, the hypocrisy of the Government has been exposed once again.
…in healing
The scrotum of males sometimes gets filled with fluid – swelling them something fierce. While its medical name is “hydrocele”, Guyanese call it “goadie”. We know Jesus healed the lame, etc…but evidently one local Pope did him one better.
He healed a fella’s goadie.
