…of those who served
It’s a good thing the Commission of Inquiry’s taking evidence on how best the State can assist the veterans of the GDF, the GNS and the People’s Militia. Your Eyewitness was moved (almost) to tears when he read the “testimony” (and the word is used in full cognizance of its religious moorings) of Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman. “Service to one’s country is the highest and most important form of service. When that service involves protecting and advancing the values, ideals, symbols and patrimony of the State and people then it is to be treasured and set apart for the highest commendation.”
But Trotman commendably moved beyond mere “commendation”. He suggested, “The protectors and defenders of the national patrimony must be given an inheritance or parts of that patrimony. It may be land that is either in housing, mining, farming or forestry….If 20 per cent of royalties collected from mining within Amerindian titled villages are set aside for them, why not a percentage of royalties earned from the sector be transferred to the Treasury for addition to veterans’ pensions?” Haven’t Guyanese heard how veterans are treated in America when they return from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, etc? It wasn’t easy for our veterans who survived Camp Ayanganna and the diggings of 1973!
And imagine the former head of the GGMDA was just complaining about Amerindians getting land with minerals! Wonder what he’ll say about veterans? One representative of the Police had already protested bitterly why Policemen – who face fire every day (think those motorist shakedowns are easy? Ha! ) – aren’t worthy of some extra benefits. And then, of course, will come the teachers’ demands. This time na Lang time when it comes to dealing with kids…schools are the new battle zones!
And before you know it, the height of the ridiculousness will be reached when all those cane workers and rice farmers quote Jonathan Swift to demand their share of the national patrimony: “…whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together.”
And we can just hear Minister Trotman defending their benefits against those who’ll mean spiritedly point out those farmers were paid!! It’s not all about money – it’s that these fellas and felines went out in the sun – like those veterans – when others were in air conditioned offices and fetched hundred pounds of cane on their heads while walking 20,000 miles before croaking at 55.
Which is just about going around the world!
…of whistleblowers
Now that Public Security Minister Ramjattan has reduced serious crimes by insisting – against a slew of naysayers (lushes?) – that bars and rum shops MUST close by 2am, he’s ready to tackle another mega challenge – witness protection. Now all of us have seen the Godfather movies and understand the need for witnesses to bring down crime kingpins. And even though Don Corleone didn’t care much for narcotics – crime is crime, nuh? And crime busting is crime busting.
So since having Phantom Squads to take out the bad guys creates such a fuss, Minister Ramjattan, being a lawyer, figures we have to get them in the courts and this means witnesses who can testify as to being there when the deals went down. Meaning that these can’t just be casual passer-byes but fella’s from the inside. And we know what THEIR lives would be worth afterwards!
But witness protection in Guyana? Taking up a new identity in HubuBackdam?
This Eyewitness doesn’t think so!
…of the kids’ future
Your Eyewitness played hooky a few times when he was in school. But he knows habitual hooky’s not good for the little darlings. And parents have a responsibility.
But aren’t criminal charges against Mom and Dad a tad over the top?
