Enjoying… the Chinese troupe

Aren’t they sweet??!! Your Eyewitness is referring to the troupe of Chinese acrobats – the Hebei Acrobatic Troupe – who’re touring – and knocking off socks all over Guyana!! Even though we’ve been assured they’ve toured some EIGHTY COUNTRIES – we’ve been assured We’re special!! And that’s why your Eyewitness is so ga-ga about them for thinking about little, ole us!! They saved our blushes by insisting they’re here because the 60th anniversary of our Independence is coming up – and they want to celebrate with us!! Now let’s not get all caviling and all about the fact that our Independence anniversary is more than a MONTH away!! It’s the THOUGHT that counts, innit??
But what thought?? That The tour’s being offered as a cultural gift from China for us supporting Mainland China vs Taiwan – at great risk to Burnham’s progressive credentials among the Moscow-aligned cadres in the PPP!! Well…the news that the tour was sponsored by CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited – which owns 25% of the Stabroek Block – made your Eyewitness – who’s been around the block and some!! – sit up a bit!! Was it because we’re that very well-endowed damsel who’s being wooed by China’s rival the USA – and the troupe will score points for us??
Well, anyhow, following its Georgetown debut at Pressie’s State House; then at the Cultural Center followed by pressie’s home village of Leonora, we’re told the troupe will continue performances at the Albion Stadium in Region Six; the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Region Ten; at the Anna Regina Stadium in Region Two and then a return to the NCC!! But why not at Windsor Forest?? Wasn’t this the first plantation that Chinese were dispatched to after arriving in 1853?? And produced Guyana’s first president, Arthur Chung?? What is going on?? These Chinese don’t want to acknowledge that they had been dragged here as indentured labourers??
Like the Portuguese, those 13,000+ Chinese quickly quit the plantations after serving their indentureship and went into the retail trade in the villages and in the two towns – Georgetown and New Amsterdam. But they didn’t earn the wrath of the Creole Africans to principate riots like against the Portuguese. Maybe they gave easy credit – or was it since there were very few women shipped in; they freely cohabited and married local African Guyanese women?? Almost every Guyanese Chinese family from the colonial period had African relatives. They didn’t only stand behind shop counters – they took to schooling pretty early and soon were quite prominent in the professions, the Civil Service and even politics. In the lexicon of the developed countries nowadays – in the age of immigrant angst – they were a “model minority”!!
They’d become GUYANESE!! So, the present influx of “new” Chinese immigrants has no reason for looking down on them and what they’ve become!!

…Exxon’s presence
Your Eyewitness is surprised at the continued war of attrition waged by a recalcitrant Opposition minority to force the government to “force” Exxon to the “renegotiation table”!! Yet, these are the same people who snicker at Cheddi Jagan’s “naivete” to denounce the Americans as “imperialists” – sucking out our wealth and enriching themselves!! Now your Eyewitness has emphasized that with changed circumstances the reactions of countries gotta also change. For example, by 1990 Russsia’s Glasnost made Cheddi acceptable to the Yanks – cause their interests weren’t threatened, no mo’.
But ideological affinity ain’t the only interest -and in fact mightn’t even be the most important one to the Yanks!! American business was, is and will always be numero uno – around which all others revolve. So, do these “renegotiators” think Exxon has no influence on its government when it comes to protecting its interests in an age where energy security trumps all??
What’s good for Exxon…!!

…the CCJ banter
Your Eyewitness enjoyed the banter of the learned judges on the CCJ as they considered Sanction Man’s appeal – insisting that he’s suffering political – not criminal – prosecution!! Because some politicians in our Judicial system berated his rape of GRA!!
Gwan’s da side!!