Back in the day, Rudyard Kipling – that arch-chronicler of British rule in India – pointed out what became a truism: “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” Well, over in NYC where hundreds of Guyanese have migrated and now call “home” – and has been dubbed Region 11 – Kipling’s rule rules. Indian Guyanese settled in Queens in the East and African Guyanese settled in the West over in Brooklyn – and never the twain hardly meets!! When Guyanese politicians make their pilgrimages to Region 11 – as they always do because that’s where the money is!! – The PNC invariably ends up in Brooklyn and the PPP in Queens. More specifically in Richmond Hill which has received OFFICIAL recognition by the City of New York as “Little Guyana”!!
When a new day dawned as it evidently dawned on David Granger that his Afro-based PNC could never win elections in Guyana unless it courted “others” and he was invited by some AFC worthies in Richmond Hill. From the reports, he was served Duck Curry and evidently – to the consternation of his hosts – ate with a fork!! Shoulda been a warning!! Well we know what happened to Granger after he kicked the AFC – and their cane-cutting supporters – to the kerb!! Wasn’t pretty – as Granger reverted to the rigging ways of his mentor Burnham!! A chill to the PNC settled in the East!!
That lasted until last Friday! On that day, (LOO) Aubrey Norton – also of the PNC and the APNU – decided to hold a “Town Hall Meeting” in the heart of Richmond Hill!! Now, whatever else might be said of him, this move exhibited political boldness from Norton: willing to beard the PPP in their stronghold of strongholds!! To your Eyewitness, it seems Norton was bent of replicating the PPP’s moves into Afro-areas in Guyana – but with the advantage of not having to hand out any goodies but could’ve actually received some!!
So did Norton succeed?? Well, from reports received by your Eyewitness, some sixty souls ventured into the hall of the “Starlight Pavillion” to listen to Norton, the LOO. And while it mightn’t have been the tsunami Norton hoped for, at least it was a “beachhead” like the ones the PPP opened up in Afro areas during the last LGG. Do fuh do na obeah, innit?? When your Eyewitness disaggregated those sixty bodies, he saw there were only about 15 Indian Guyanese among them!! Were the Afro majority bussed from Brooklyn?? Your Eyewitness thinks not. Folks don’t realize that there are large pockets of African Guyanese also in Queens – such as St Albans!!
All in all, your Eyewitness’ main takeaway was that Norton disavowed any street protests in Guyana!! The man has good sense!!
…to India’s moon landing
You’d think with the BRICS meeting over in South Africa, the West would’ve been a tad more enthusiastic about India’s successful mission to the Moon’s South Pole!! After all, China and Russia are hell-bent of pushing BRICS to take on the US and the West – while India and Brazil just want more equitable relations. But the West’s reaction simply proved China’s observation that the West was still stuck in its racist ways.
This was epitomised by a cartoon in the New York Times. Two old, obese, white men are ensconced in sumptuous leather chairs smoking cigars and swirling cognac – in a building labelled “Elite Space Club”. They’re reading a news article about India’s success. Knocking on the door is an Indian in a Dhoti – a la Gandhi! – pulling a scrawny cow!! Yep…Imagine that!! If the supposedly woke NY Times – not some hillbilly from Tennessee! – Can depict India like this, what about us?? Shithole country?
…to Gladstones
Your Eyewitness is taken aback at the implied need for approbation from our supposedly DEPARTED white masters by so many in our society who are fighting to claim their apology!!
Maybe the Gladstones should’ve patted their heads?? There…there…
