…at the gates
Prezzie described the PPP MP’s who staged a raucous placard protest while he was addressing Parliament as “vulgarians”. The neologism, of course, invoked the term “barbarians”. And in case anyone missed the allusion, for good measure, Prezzie insisted the PPP has a “contempt for culture”. In the midst of invoking “1964” – the year in which the PNC was ensconced into office after violent riots – the reference was not by accident.
Reiterating to the black-tie audience of the overseas PNC faithful that he was “a Burnhamite”, Prezzie vowed, “My brothers and sisters, that is where I take my ideas from, my ideology from and it’s good for you to know that.” Part of the tradition of a Burnhamite is to genuflect to the forms of “civilised” behaviour – even as the most uncivilised policies are being executed. Burnham illustrated this literally, even when he walked out of Parliament with the rest of his PPP colleagues back when they were all together: he took time to bow to the Speaker!!
He could mock Rodney by alluding to the latter’s prowess at high jumping at Queens, when his goons violently broke up the WPA’s meeting and Rodney was forced to scale fences to escape being maimed for life. Burnham was not a “vulgarian”, presumably because he didn’t actually break the legs of other politicians. He of course, (in)famously advised Rodney to “make his will” since his (Burnham’s) “steel was sharper”, just before having him (Rodney) blown to smithereens. But he was not a “vulgarian” because he offered his challenge with his well-modulated Churchillian English.
Prezzie, in like manner, is not a “vulgarian” even though he let the whole country down the primrose path by letting them think he had moved past his original demand for a judge – and then pulled the (constitutional) rug out from under them. He was not a “vulgarian” because he took time to call Jagdeo for a five-minute meeting to inform him he’d selected an 84-year-old judge with absolutely no experience in “electoral matters” and padded his CV to boot!! Jagdeo should probably be grateful some goons hadn’t softened him up with a baton.
But this is all part of the demonisation of the PPP and their supporters as they’re set up for whatever condign treatment Prezzie deems necessary as his PNC follows their path of 1964 to return to office in 2020. Who cares for the squeals of “uncivilised” vulgarians? They’ve got to be taught good manners, don’t they?
Like by the young “non-vulgarian” PNC supporter exposing his privates to the PPP women protesting in from of Parliament.
They’ve got to be civilised – by any means necessary.
…in economics
Prezzie was also not a “vulgarian” when in addressing Parliament he claimed, his “Government wrested the nation from the vice of divisive and destructive winner-takes-all politics and laid the basis for a system of inclusionary democracy – (which) seeks cooperation for the ‘common good’ rather than one that fosters confrontation and chaos.” Even as he’d just slapped Jagdeo across the face with his (glove) of rejecting all three lists!
Prezzie was also not a “vulgarian” when he boasted about his “prudent” management of the economy to deliver 3.1 per cent growth – even as he accepted that all due to gold production! So what if the other FIVE SISTERS are on life support and 7000 sugar workers are going to be out of jobs – with no new employment in sight!
So Jagdeo and his PPP MP’s are supposed to cheer daintily at these bon mots – like the gentry looking on at a game of cricket at Lords.
Not too loudly – that would be vulgar!!
…at the bridge
Those cussing captains of the oil ships stuck for days as engineers tried valiantly (but successfully) to fix the winch to retract the Demerara Harbour Bridge were definitely “vulgarians”.
That’s why the new bridge will also be retracting!! We’ll show THEM!!
