The current Paris Olympic Games conveys profound lessons for Guyana and the world at large. It renders a solemn message: time is the most valuable asset that one can embrace; it makes all the difference between gold and nothing, between success and failure. The men’s 100 meters is perhaps the greatest teacher in this regards where American Noah Lyles beat Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by 4/1000 of a second!! Both men finished on 9.79 seconds while last man, Jamaican 23 year old Oblique Seville, finishing on 9.91 seconds. Simply, 0.12 seconds makes the difference first and last! A valuable education in the use of time that the Guyana Judicial process (4 years for the start of the Election fraud case) and Deeds Registry (over 5 years for a transport (deed) to be issued) can absorb.
Selection of athletes is a rigorous and meritorious process with no concerns for race, religion, political lineage and connections to hierarchy of power brokers. The selection of the present crop of administrators and ministers is sorrowfully lacking in similar concept. Therigors of preparation, training and competition eventually take their toll on athletes, however, thankfully expert physical therapy and psychological counseling are provided by most of the participating nations. Nothing of this nature exists in The Land of Many Waters (which now imports water). This inexplicable absence of psychological counseling has propelled Guyana to a nation with the second highestsuicide rate (41 per 100,000) in the world, after Lesotho in Africa (87.5 per 100,000).
Ancient Civilizations like the Maya and Incaperformed rituals where virgins were sacrificed at the altar in order for the success of crops, new administrative positions, territorial invasion etc… No such undertakings can take place in Guyana: not only because of legality but availability. In conclusion, the most salient aspect of the Games is the selection process. As indicated earlier, athletes are chosen to perform based on track records, fitness and skill–not ethnicity, political lineage or connections to the hierarchy of power brokers. It is for this very reason that The US, China, France and the UK have won the most medals.
Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine
