…Gandhi
Your Eyewitness was never such a big fan of Gandhi, to being with. He liked those other leaders who challenged Gandhi’s whole passive resistance bit – dubbed “radicals” by the Brits. He figured Gandhi was doing exactly what the British wanted in a “freedom fighter” – just turn the other cheek when they knocked down some Indian initiative or other. Your Eyewitness believes that “knock got knock back”!! Or SHOULD have knock back!
This scenario was repeated by Gandhi’s most famous follower – Martin Luther King – in the American South during the late fifties and sixties, when Black Americans’ rights were being trampled upon like there was no tomorrow. Which there wasn’t for most of them! He was opposed by Malcolm X and others, who carried the exact line as the “radicals” of India. Malcolm X pushed violent protests, and his motto was “Burn Baby, Burn!!” – when whole sections of several inner cities were serendipitously torched.
Anyhow, there’s a big hue and cry in Guyana over the Indian HC’s suggestion that since there’s already a statue of Gandhi in the Promenade Gardens from God knows when, why not name the Park and adjoining Middle St after him!! Well…how dare he!!
First came the retort that who is Gandhi and what did he even do for Guyanese? Well, the same could be said for another fella who happened to be an admirer of Gandhi – Nelson Mandela, couldn’t it? There’s that whole road being made into a super highway named after him, no? But, to your Eyewitness, it would be pretty churlish to question that decision!!
Another thought that struck your Eyewitness is that President Ali’s getting all the flack from elements of the Afro-Guyanese community, who’re up in arms against the suggestion. Gandhi’s sentiments about the Zulus he encountered in his long sojourn in South Africa was “racist”, and how dare the changes even be contemplated for a place that was consecrated by African slave blood? Back when slaves were being executed and “piked” on Parade Grounds, what’s now Promenade Gardens was part and parcel of the Grounds. Well, for one – as said before – Gandhi’s statue’s been there for donkey’s years, so why the fuss now and not back then?? And Mandela had known of Gandhi’s views on Zulus and still commended him.
Then, again, it’s not the Central Government’s decision – is it? It’s the Mayor and his Council’s and his Worship Pandit – who was in the thick of the commemoration. He didn’t utter a word of protest! Shouldn’t these complaints be directed at him?
But we know where all of this is coming from, don’t we? Never mind the two great African icons of the 20th century honoured Gandhi.
All politics is local, ain’t it?
…lax services
President Ali is starting to put his stamp on his administration – and it’s a “no-nonsense” one. A lot of folks had figured that since Granger was an army man, he would’ve been quite disciplined in getting things done. They forget that Granger had never seen action in his decades of service in the army!! The man NEVER had to get anything done – and has never gotten anything done!
Ali, on the other hand, had been the young go-getter Housing Minister who’d also held the Ministry of Tourism! He led one of the biggest housing drives the Caribbean had ever seen. And, once the PNC finally stepped aside, he’s been literally on the go nonstop. He doesn’t seem to have a “pause button”!!
Now he’s showing a further dimension – he expects results from the people serving in Government. When he saw the lackadaisical response of the GFS to the Brickdam conflagration, he made his dissatisfaction known to Minister Benn.
The Fire Chief was soon taking his extended leave!
…new (PNC) leaf?
Your Eyewitness must confess he wasn’t actually holding his breath that the PNC would follow up on former PM Sam Hinds’s call for them to commit to eschewing rigging in the future as they rebuild.
