Dear Editor,
THE lyricist David Gates wrote a beautiful song, “If a picture paints a thousand words,” and, many singers have rivalled the stage to reflect the desire of painting a portrait expressing feelings of emotion. Perhaps, Petula Clark romantically vocalized the sweetness, softness and sentiments of this song with her compassionate voice to out-charm the charisma of Bread, who soothingly also caressed the tenderness of this melody with his enchanting rendition.
Back in 1921, an advertiser, Frederick R. Bernard, coined the phrase, “A picture paints a thousand words,” articulating the impression to convincingly discuss the usage of drawn and photographic images in advertising in a trade journal, ‘Printers Inc.,’ for the promotion of ads appearing on the sides of street cars. Incidentally, he attributed this expression to a ‘Japanese philosopher!’
A leading newspaper carried a “telling” picture on Friday, depicting a pensive mood, to accurately capture the timeliness of a much conclusive meeting between the honourable United States Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Blinken and the honourable Opposition Leader, Mr. Aubrey Norton. It is also said that “a picture do [sic] not lie,” and indeed, this Kodak moment tells it all to sum up, “the train has left the station.”
The dossier handed over to the second visiting US Secretary of State can only contain an open secret of tantrums, cajoling the prankishness of a mischievous junior schoolboy up to his regular tricks and hoping that the victim will fall for the perpetrator’s known ruse. Is this “leader” deceiving himself, knowing fully well that the famous lady, Sarah Ann-Lynch, is still very much in Guyana and she is on top of all the activities underscored by the government and undermined by the opposition? Ambassador Sarah Ann-Lynch may be outgoing but she is still the staunch pillar of foundation, defending democracy in this country to the very end of her stint in Guyana and ready, willing and culpable to represent the dignity of truth and not to shun honesty. Permanent interests and not friends do make a difference in seeing through the likes of a corrupted regime and makes it easier not to side with riggers of any electoral process!
The US knows that any political party who chooses to not present their SoPs has something to hide and prefers to bluff their way to deceit. Only the PNC party qualifies for such an action in Guyana. No wonder former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked the PNC’s ‘sanctimonious gangster’ to step aside. As part of the ABCE, it was Mr. Blinken’s country who ensured that no loser should be installed to govern Guyana in 2020, but the legal and legitimate winner, the PPP/C party should be inaugurated to administrate the country. The US was there to ensure that all the attempts by the PNC to get their party back into power through the back door, failed.
The world continues to laugh at the PNC’s feeble claim of practised “apartheid” in Guyana and the US would certainly not entertain any such development in a thriving country with mutual investments. The US is the most powerful nation in the UN. The policies and principles of the United Nations do not condone any iota of apartheid in any part of the world. Would the US not have condemned any such spark right under its nose under the watchful eyes of the meticulous Ambassador Sarah Lynch?
Even a circus of jokers will find the absurd allegation of “marginalization of people here,” poor for jokes with a bitter taste! The PPP/C government has an open policy for equitable distribution for all assigned grants, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, political affiliation or domicile. Citizens now enjoy an unprecedented allocation of house lots and the many areas of help to construct their houses, including easily available mortgages with low interest and the supply of materials also. Agriculture is on the path of making Guyana the Caribbean’s “Bread Basket” once again.
The government is reaching out to all farmers to ensure that they get the necessary requisite help to achieve maximum production at low cost with the help of free fertilizers and equipment. No one can complain about free scholarships through GOAL and other programmes in the field of education. Parents are rejoicing and are ever thankful for the $40,000 cash grant given freely per child in any school, be it private or public. The “Because We Care” programme was stopped by the PNC government, and children, especially those needy ones, were denied this privilege by those who are fronting “marginalization!” The health services have drastically improved with the PPP/C government with so many new technologies implemented to align itself with top-class treatment with the rest of the world. Imagine, the PNC party never dreamed about giving out $600,000 to dialysis patients, a baby project by the PPP/C government.
Let’s not even broach the topic of massive economic development projects instituted by this government to change the entire landscape of this country overnight. The changing infrastructure through the construction of houses, offices, buildings, schools, hospitals, police stations, streets, roads, highways, bridges, playgrounds, parks, community centres, airports, harbours, etc., are too numerous to recollect and mention, all of which ensure that employment is guaranteed and generated for every Guyanese who wants to work. In fact, employers are complaining that they have to import workers from overseas in order to fill the vacancies because Guyanese are unwilling to work. This article will not attempt to traverse the implications and significance of the oil and gas industry and other proposed energy alternative proposals. Who in their right mind will tolerate the conversation of “marginalization of people here?” Certainly not the US. Members of the diplomatic corps are certainly bemused with this bit of amusement.
Mr. Blinken was here to conduct serious business. President Ali has just returned from the CARICOM HoG meeting. He wasn’t shunned as a leader who practises partisan politics! President Dr. Irfaan Ali will chair CARICOM in 2024. Rome was not built in a day and the PPP/C government cannot in five years undo all the monstrous wrongs committed by the PNC in their 33 years of damaging reign. Mr. Blinken is a frank, fair and famous figure-head in the US government and cannot be fooled. His picture with his facial expression and open hands is pleading for the realization of rationalizing or reasoning or remedying? Mr. Norton is a lame, lost and lone leader. His pitiful posture portrays the repertoire of regret, remorse and repentance, with his sad, sorrowful and scruple face, hands closed in surrender! The lens of the camera can be bought but cannot be bribed!
Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall