by Stella Ramsaroop
(Originally published in the Kaieteur News on 08 Jan 2006)
Issues of gender equality come in so many forms; professional, relational, spiritual, intellectual - and yes, even sexual. Traditional thought demands that women scorn their sexuality, one of the most vital and enjoyable parts of life.
If you asked a woman in 1906, just one hundred years ago, if she was as sexually satisfied as her spouse, there would have no doubt been a variety of possible responses. If she was taught that such talk was not “ladylike,” she may have shied from an answer or stormed off in a pious huff. However, if you could coax an honest reply, it would have probably entailed the required deference to the needs of her husband.
However, there is a new day dawning on this sensitive issue as women slowly realise that - contrary to what most men think - females have a sexual appetite too. They are also coming to terms with the fact that it is okay to like sex and that their sexual needs are just as important as that of their spouse’s.
There is nothing that ticks me off more than when someone (man or woman) labels a woman who enjoys sex as a slut, yet a man who likes sex is somehow a stud. It is normal, and in fact natural, for both women and men to enjoy sex.
This double standard is diminishing as women explore the many shades and nuances of their sexuality. The feelings of guilt that have been imposed by a patriarchal society are quickly dissipating each time one woman unabashedly tells another keenly interested woman about how much fun she had with her husband the night before.
Further, with more women moving in powerful positions in the media, news programs and commercials are developing a distinctively feminine flare – the kind that can only be attributed to a strong woman who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. If you are an insecure man, watch out buddy, cause here we come.
I saw one example of this phenomenon in a recent fast food commercial with a woman who says that when she is eating breakfast from this particular restaurant, she feels anything is possible and dreams of hiring a pool boy – though she has no pool. How wonderfully scandalous! This commercial brilliantly hits home with every woman because yes, we think about those types of things too.
I consider this commercial to be pioneering material. To have a man say such things is traditionally acceptable, after all men do enjoy sex. However, to have a woman say such a thing breaks all social decorum, yet opens the doors of flagrant feminine sexuality into one of the last places to accept the woman for her real beauty – commercial marketing.
Commercial marketing has always portrayed the woman as either a sex object for men or a Betty Crocker type, prompting several generations of women to constantly reach for unachievable perfection projected by one delusional image or the other. This medium has been insufferably slow to recognise the woman for her true self.
I applaud this fast food restaurant for taking such a bold move. In my opinion, this single commercial has shattered the 50s prototype and the sex-object image into tiny fragments. My hope is that this commercial will set a precedence for future global marketing.
Another example of the changes taking place in the media concerning women is through the television shows and movies being produced. At the encouragement of a male friend, I recently bought a Bollywood movie entitled, Bride and Prejudice (a rip off of the classic by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice). In the movie, an Indian woman is hoping to marry, but she has a stubborn streak and refuses to marry just to conform to societal expectation.
She wants to be attracted – intellectually, physically and sexually - to the man she chooses to marry. After a very funny song and dance with her sisters about how a particular suitor was probably horrible in bed, this woman refuses the hand of a man who has loads of money because he is unable to stimulate her – in any way.
In the movie, this woman is intelligent, educated, beautiful and in touch with her sexuality. She deserves someone who can keep pace with her in all these regards and she will not settle for less. She does not need a man to complete her because she is complete all on her own. Instead, she wants a partner with whom she could lovingly share her life.
Such a character brilliantly portrayed the emerging trend I am talking about – of women who are wholly comfortable with every aspect of themselves, including their sexuality.
Like this movie character, women are no longer required to be told how they should feel or what they should want. They are finally free to find out for themselves. For the brave women who do step out and find themselves, fulfilment comes in a variety of ways - be it through sexual, intellectual, religious, political or social pursuits.
Today’s woman has many dimensions and I applaud the media for finally catching up to those of us who have embraced our many sides to find completion through exploring all that life has to offer.
Currently, there is a definite trend of more women pursuing an upper level education than men. I believe this to be a natural surge (since just a few decades ago education was withheld from all women) that should be expected to increase even more as women discover that a world of opportunity awaits them on the other side of the doors of a university.
Mark my words; within the next decade women will be controlling many aspects of life that have long been restricted to the men, this includes control over what happens in her bed.
Maybe this long-overdue shift in commercial marketing and entertainment production is because the media finally realise women are too intelligent to buy into the absurd notion that we need to be recreated into some 18-year-old anorexic to be beautiful. More likely, it is because women are the ones calling the shots behind that camera now.
Either way, strong, intelligent and sexual women are blooming all over the world and this phenomenon promises to be one of the most beautiful pieces of art that (wo)mankind has ever seen.
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Stella Says…Guyana is no place for political wimps
by Stella Ramsaroop
(Originally published in the Kaieteur News on 05 Jan 2006)
I am so disappointed in the AFC and the GTF lately. I am frustrated that they could not put aside their personal agendas, personality conflicts and minor political differences to come together as one entity for the good of Guyana. I know of many who are even frustrated with the fact that they launched as two separate groups when we all expected one united third force party.
Last summer Peter Ramsaroop said he wanted to help form a group that would bring together the brightest minds in the country to help bring change to Guyana. Many other leaders also echoed this statement. Well, it seems as if the brightest minds in the country also have the biggest egos.
Is the GTF truly falling apart as reported by Freddie a few weeks ago? If so, is it because these brilliant minds cannot resolve their minor differences? Or is it because they all want to be the top dog? How sad that these intelligent men could not put aside their egos long enough to do what is best for Guyana. The GTF owes the people an explanation, but it seems they are all on an extended vacation instead.
So what we have is a bunch of political wimps who want the stand in the limelight of political adoration under the pretence of wanting to help the people of Guyana, but they do not have what it takes to go the distance. I am so tired of jellyfish politicians who toy with the people just so they can have their names in the papers on a regular basis. Get a spine and do something right for a change!
Where are the men and women who have genuine hearts and the backbone to truly challenge the PPP? What is next? Will the PNC cave too? Is Corbin going to step aside and let Jagdeo have his way with the elections like he has had his way with the country for years now? If so, we should just build a castle and institute Jagdeo as the King of Guyana because there is no one left with the will to fight for the people.
I have had some serious issues with the way the AFC has conducted itself in the last few months. However, if they are the only ones who will step up and take on the haughty PPP, then for the sake of democracy I say, woohoo!
Has anyone truly considered the ramifications of an election that is swept by the PPP? It has been so difficult to stave off the communist whip in the last year, imagine what it would be like if the PPP took any more control of the country than it has already secured?
I have been a long-standing socialist for many reasons. However, there is a significant difference between socialism and communism. The most important difference is that most communist governments impose rules on society without feeling a need to explain itself to the people.
For example, when the PPP does not let anyone know what is going on with the development projects being built for the World Cup, it steps outside of its democratic responsibility to the people. We do not know who has been awarded contracts or how much those contracts are worth because the PPP feels it is exempt from this type of accountability.
Further, I have come to believe there is some merit to certain capitalistic notions. It is obvious to me that many capitalist societies have made a good life for themselves. It is difficult to portion out community money when the community has no money to portion. So if a free market can bring in the money, then perhaps certain socialist principles can then help to distribute the gains.
Latin and South America continue to slowly inch to the left. However, is it making a difference for the people or is it just doing what communism is famous for – padding the accounts of the leaders? There are many in Venezuela who feel the poor are poorer than when Chavez took office and that democracy is now dead in their country. Is this what we will be saying about Guyana in two years?
Certainly the poor in Guyana are still poor, yet the leaders are living quite well. This is Communism at work. If it were Socialism, those nice homes of the politicians would never have been built because the money would have been distributed throughout the nation. I bet the cost of one of those houses would have gone a long way to cleaning up the canals and repairing the aging drainage system.
The beauty of democracy is that it neutralises the extremist elements from the various parties. I cannot think of what the Bush Administration would have done since it took office if the Democrats were not there to watch their every step. Look what it has done with the Democrats watching! Likewise, what will happen if the PPP is allowed to run amuck without accountability?
Guyanese politics is no place for the power hungry, the egomaniacs or the wimp. Guyana needs leaders who will put aside their own agendas and work hand-in-hand with their counterparts to build a bright future for the people. This nation has had its share of selfish egotists and jellyfish leaders. Now it needs some strong men and women with integrity and compassion for the people.
The question is this – should we start building Jagdeo's castle now? Or are there some leaders left who have what it takes to neutralise the extremist elements of the PPP?
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
(Originally published in the Kaieteur News on 05 Jan 2006)
I am so disappointed in the AFC and the GTF lately. I am frustrated that they could not put aside their personal agendas, personality conflicts and minor political differences to come together as one entity for the good of Guyana. I know of many who are even frustrated with the fact that they launched as two separate groups when we all expected one united third force party.
Last summer Peter Ramsaroop said he wanted to help form a group that would bring together the brightest minds in the country to help bring change to Guyana. Many other leaders also echoed this statement. Well, it seems as if the brightest minds in the country also have the biggest egos.
Is the GTF truly falling apart as reported by Freddie a few weeks ago? If so, is it because these brilliant minds cannot resolve their minor differences? Or is it because they all want to be the top dog? How sad that these intelligent men could not put aside their egos long enough to do what is best for Guyana. The GTF owes the people an explanation, but it seems they are all on an extended vacation instead.
So what we have is a bunch of political wimps who want the stand in the limelight of political adoration under the pretence of wanting to help the people of Guyana, but they do not have what it takes to go the distance. I am so tired of jellyfish politicians who toy with the people just so they can have their names in the papers on a regular basis. Get a spine and do something right for a change!
Where are the men and women who have genuine hearts and the backbone to truly challenge the PPP? What is next? Will the PNC cave too? Is Corbin going to step aside and let Jagdeo have his way with the elections like he has had his way with the country for years now? If so, we should just build a castle and institute Jagdeo as the King of Guyana because there is no one left with the will to fight for the people.
I have had some serious issues with the way the AFC has conducted itself in the last few months. However, if they are the only ones who will step up and take on the haughty PPP, then for the sake of democracy I say, woohoo!
Has anyone truly considered the ramifications of an election that is swept by the PPP? It has been so difficult to stave off the communist whip in the last year, imagine what it would be like if the PPP took any more control of the country than it has already secured?
I have been a long-standing socialist for many reasons. However, there is a significant difference between socialism and communism. The most important difference is that most communist governments impose rules on society without feeling a need to explain itself to the people.
For example, when the PPP does not let anyone know what is going on with the development projects being built for the World Cup, it steps outside of its democratic responsibility to the people. We do not know who has been awarded contracts or how much those contracts are worth because the PPP feels it is exempt from this type of accountability.
Further, I have come to believe there is some merit to certain capitalistic notions. It is obvious to me that many capitalist societies have made a good life for themselves. It is difficult to portion out community money when the community has no money to portion. So if a free market can bring in the money, then perhaps certain socialist principles can then help to distribute the gains.
Latin and South America continue to slowly inch to the left. However, is it making a difference for the people or is it just doing what communism is famous for – padding the accounts of the leaders? There are many in Venezuela who feel the poor are poorer than when Chavez took office and that democracy is now dead in their country. Is this what we will be saying about Guyana in two years?
Certainly the poor in Guyana are still poor, yet the leaders are living quite well. This is Communism at work. If it were Socialism, those nice homes of the politicians would never have been built because the money would have been distributed throughout the nation. I bet the cost of one of those houses would have gone a long way to cleaning up the canals and repairing the aging drainage system.
The beauty of democracy is that it neutralises the extremist elements from the various parties. I cannot think of what the Bush Administration would have done since it took office if the Democrats were not there to watch their every step. Look what it has done with the Democrats watching! Likewise, what will happen if the PPP is allowed to run amuck without accountability?
Guyanese politics is no place for the power hungry, the egomaniacs or the wimp. Guyana needs leaders who will put aside their own agendas and work hand-in-hand with their counterparts to build a bright future for the people. This nation has had its share of selfish egotists and jellyfish leaders. Now it needs some strong men and women with integrity and compassion for the people.
The question is this – should we start building Jagdeo's castle now? Or are there some leaders left who have what it takes to neutralise the extremist elements of the PPP?
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
Stella's Perceptions - Rajendra Bisessar
Here's a section of Rajendra Bisessar's column:
Recently, Kaieteur News columnist Stella Ramsaroop said she changed her opinion of the President because she saw news that there were flood waters in the town. Roy Paul, another columnist, not too long ago suggested that Stella lived abroad and thus could not be that knowledgeable of what transpires here. She responded that she reads all the news, the columns etc. and so is knowledgeable. Stella, Roy is to some extent correct, because as I and officials of the White House have suggested earlier, the news is usually negative and so are most of the columns as they rival each other to find any and everything in order to criticise the government. If we cannot find it, we spin it; we speculate and so it is impossible that, like in California and in other places, the flood can take place even though the government did what was possible to be done in the particular time with the available resources.
Caption, “Unlike in the past the flood waters in Georgetown receded quickly”; “Despite government's assistance to the City necessary works were not carried out”. But no, “Bharrat and his government failed, GT floods”; “Georgetown floods again, President insensitive to its needs”.
Stella, if you insist on getting your information from the columnists and from the newspapers then your understanding of what is happening here would be limited.
Your acceptance of the people vote race could also be misleading. Did Trotman and Ramjattan vote race when they voted for the PNC and PPP, respectively? Did I vote race?
Is it possible that Stella, in 2006, could say that it is necessary to advance evidence to support that both races vote race rather than accepting the assumption and using it as the only basis to analyse a very dynamic political situation?
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Stella Says…The PNCR is Making Its Move
by Stella Ramsaroop
I was recently sent a draft of the PNCR’s Crime Reduction Plan (CRP) in response to a criticism I extended in respect to what I believe to be the their largely ‘missing in action’ contribution as the opposition party in relation to the constant onslaught of criminal activities (and quite frankly in many other areas as well).
In this review, I will highlight the aspects I feel are deserving of praise as well as those that are weak. However, I want to state once again, just as I did in regards to the AFC and Raphael Trotman, I am not a PNC supporter. I held the AFC’s feet to the fire on the parliamentary seat issue and then justly applauded Trotman when he finally did what was right.
Likewise, I have praise the PPP in the past for minor feats and also reproached them when needed. If Robert Persaud, MBA ever gave me something for which to commend him, I would even pay him his dues (though I would probably have to be drunk off my keister first).
This time, it is the PNC’s turn. I have taken periodical potshots at them for being the absentee opposition, but it seems they are ready to start marketing themselves as a viable option for the next elections. Therefore, I will gladly oblige their effort.
In fact, in the coming months I plan to explore the political strategies and agendas of the various parties with the intention of pulling out the high-quality portions that can best benefit Guyana and exposing the areas that are feeble and wanting. It is when these various notions are tossed around in the public arena for debate that Guyana can choose which ones have merit and which ones should be filed under “J” for junk.
In my estimation, it was a bold move by the PNCR to forward this document to me since I have a tendency to be quite critical at times. It’s a pesky little trait that I just can’t seem to shake (not that I have ever tried to shake it). However, I also try to be fair and it quickly became quite obvious to me why they were so confident. Their strategy is good, darn good.
I spent a good amount of time over the holiday break poking holes in this plan and it still holds water – like the streets of Guyana during a heavy rain. Though Hamley Case, PNCR Central Executive Member, informed me that this is a work in progress, it is nonetheless fairly comprehensive.
The plan approached the more commonplace issues with innovative methods that were impressive and tackled the sensitive issues, such as the Buxton situation, with a synergy of vigour and kid glove that acknowledged the depth of the problem yet treated the general community with consideration and respect.
Commendably, a large portion of the draft was dedicated to “narco-criminality.” It was good to see so much consideration given to what I consider Guyana’s most urgent problem. Another aspect I thought merited attention was the intention to build “Crime Reduction Centres within troubled Communities.” It seems these centres would act as satellite points for law enforcement and crime prevention, even to the point of establishing a type of mini-judicial system that would handle “low-level crime” acts within the local community.
Evidently, these centres would also send officers into the community to act as agents of crime deterrence and to steer people away from crime. I like this notion, however, there are a couple issues that seem to present themselves right away – the ongoing corruption within the law enforcement system and the lack of finances to implement this program. In fact, I found myself asking the same question of financing with almost every new idea outlined.
I like that the plan presupposes community involvement, puts prisoners to work in an attempt to teach them a trade and has a strong emphasis on rehabilitation for as many as possible. In fact, I have often wondered why prisoners are not assigned canal-cleaning duty. Then I remembered the inefficiency and corruption that is widespread within the current law enforcement system and chucked that idea right out the window. However, the PNCR’s plan moves the prison from its highly precarious position in the city into a less populated area that can be cultivated into training fields for the prisoners to take agricultural classes.
I could spend a considerable amount of time talking about the remarkable aspects of this extensive document, but my column can only be so long and I want to talk about some aspects I found to be wanting as well. For example, the suggested employment of “modern and effective interrogation practices” without a clear indication that strict guidelines would be observed to deter the inhumane treatment of prisoners or at least an expressed condemnation of such activities.
However, my biggest beef was how little consideration was afforded to domestic violence and the VERY obvious omission of a plan to address the issues of sexual assault, paedophilia and human trafficking. I simply cannot believe that the PNC sent ME a crime strategy that did not incorporate a systematic plan to deal with rape. What were you thinking? Didn’t you know this would be the very first thing I looked for?
I used a printed copy for my initial review and when I could not find even one reference for a plan to curtail sexual assault, I reverted to my computer document and conducted a word search with the hope that somehow I had missed it. My search rendered nothing more than “confidence building measures” for victims of sexual crimes and a measly workshop on how women can protect themselves. What about how Guyana is going to protect the women?
How can you deal with issues like littering and public urination, yet leave out one of the most crucial aspects of crime in Guyana like rape? I give the PNCR full credit for a brilliant piece of work; however, no crime reduction strategy is complete without a far-reaching stratagem for dealing with sexual predators.
I am going to be brutally honest with the PNC. I think most of your crime plan is brilliant. It has just the flare you need to reshape your party into a new and revitalised entity. I noticed your piece on the Diaspora from Sunday’s paper too and it is clear that you are making your move. It is about time. Overall, this is just the type of crime reduction strategy that Guyana needs right now.
However, it really ticks me off that you completely neglected the welfare and protection of Guyana’s women.
I have said this before and I am going to say it again; no party in Guyana deserves to participate in the upcoming elections if they have not included women’s issues in their platform. Hamley, I do hope this was a mistake of some kind and I just did not receive this vital part of your crime reduction plan. When you find the rest of your strategy, I would be happy to review it again.
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
I was recently sent a draft of the PNCR’s Crime Reduction Plan (CRP) in response to a criticism I extended in respect to what I believe to be the their largely ‘missing in action’ contribution as the opposition party in relation to the constant onslaught of criminal activities (and quite frankly in many other areas as well).
In this review, I will highlight the aspects I feel are deserving of praise as well as those that are weak. However, I want to state once again, just as I did in regards to the AFC and Raphael Trotman, I am not a PNC supporter. I held the AFC’s feet to the fire on the parliamentary seat issue and then justly applauded Trotman when he finally did what was right.
Likewise, I have praise the PPP in the past for minor feats and also reproached them when needed. If Robert Persaud, MBA ever gave me something for which to commend him, I would even pay him his dues (though I would probably have to be drunk off my keister first).
This time, it is the PNC’s turn. I have taken periodical potshots at them for being the absentee opposition, but it seems they are ready to start marketing themselves as a viable option for the next elections. Therefore, I will gladly oblige their effort.
In fact, in the coming months I plan to explore the political strategies and agendas of the various parties with the intention of pulling out the high-quality portions that can best benefit Guyana and exposing the areas that are feeble and wanting. It is when these various notions are tossed around in the public arena for debate that Guyana can choose which ones have merit and which ones should be filed under “J” for junk.
In my estimation, it was a bold move by the PNCR to forward this document to me since I have a tendency to be quite critical at times. It’s a pesky little trait that I just can’t seem to shake (not that I have ever tried to shake it). However, I also try to be fair and it quickly became quite obvious to me why they were so confident. Their strategy is good, darn good.
I spent a good amount of time over the holiday break poking holes in this plan and it still holds water – like the streets of Guyana during a heavy rain. Though Hamley Case, PNCR Central Executive Member, informed me that this is a work in progress, it is nonetheless fairly comprehensive.
The plan approached the more commonplace issues with innovative methods that were impressive and tackled the sensitive issues, such as the Buxton situation, with a synergy of vigour and kid glove that acknowledged the depth of the problem yet treated the general community with consideration and respect.
Commendably, a large portion of the draft was dedicated to “narco-criminality.” It was good to see so much consideration given to what I consider Guyana’s most urgent problem. Another aspect I thought merited attention was the intention to build “Crime Reduction Centres within troubled Communities.” It seems these centres would act as satellite points for law enforcement and crime prevention, even to the point of establishing a type of mini-judicial system that would handle “low-level crime” acts within the local community.
Evidently, these centres would also send officers into the community to act as agents of crime deterrence and to steer people away from crime. I like this notion, however, there are a couple issues that seem to present themselves right away – the ongoing corruption within the law enforcement system and the lack of finances to implement this program. In fact, I found myself asking the same question of financing with almost every new idea outlined.
I like that the plan presupposes community involvement, puts prisoners to work in an attempt to teach them a trade and has a strong emphasis on rehabilitation for as many as possible. In fact, I have often wondered why prisoners are not assigned canal-cleaning duty. Then I remembered the inefficiency and corruption that is widespread within the current law enforcement system and chucked that idea right out the window. However, the PNCR’s plan moves the prison from its highly precarious position in the city into a less populated area that can be cultivated into training fields for the prisoners to take agricultural classes.
I could spend a considerable amount of time talking about the remarkable aspects of this extensive document, but my column can only be so long and I want to talk about some aspects I found to be wanting as well. For example, the suggested employment of “modern and effective interrogation practices” without a clear indication that strict guidelines would be observed to deter the inhumane treatment of prisoners or at least an expressed condemnation of such activities.
However, my biggest beef was how little consideration was afforded to domestic violence and the VERY obvious omission of a plan to address the issues of sexual assault, paedophilia and human trafficking. I simply cannot believe that the PNC sent ME a crime strategy that did not incorporate a systematic plan to deal with rape. What were you thinking? Didn’t you know this would be the very first thing I looked for?
I used a printed copy for my initial review and when I could not find even one reference for a plan to curtail sexual assault, I reverted to my computer document and conducted a word search with the hope that somehow I had missed it. My search rendered nothing more than “confidence building measures” for victims of sexual crimes and a measly workshop on how women can protect themselves. What about how Guyana is going to protect the women?
How can you deal with issues like littering and public urination, yet leave out one of the most crucial aspects of crime in Guyana like rape? I give the PNCR full credit for a brilliant piece of work; however, no crime reduction strategy is complete without a far-reaching stratagem for dealing with sexual predators.
I am going to be brutally honest with the PNC. I think most of your crime plan is brilliant. It has just the flare you need to reshape your party into a new and revitalised entity. I noticed your piece on the Diaspora from Sunday’s paper too and it is clear that you are making your move. It is about time. Overall, this is just the type of crime reduction strategy that Guyana needs right now.
However, it really ticks me off that you completely neglected the welfare and protection of Guyana’s women.
I have said this before and I am going to say it again; no party in Guyana deserves to participate in the upcoming elections if they have not included women’s issues in their platform. Hamley, I do hope this was a mistake of some kind and I just did not receive this vital part of your crime reduction plan. When you find the rest of your strategy, I would be happy to review it again.
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
Monday, January 02, 2006
I look forward to KN's columnists - Philip De Freitas
Dear Editor,
I am a Guyanese resident of the UK . The newspapers in Guyana keep us in touch with what is happening back home. The difference with the Kaieteur News is its columnists. I would be at a loss to understand what is going on in Guyana without the explanations offered by your columnists.
My favourite remains Freddie Kissoon. It is a credit to his learning that he can write a column every day in your paper. Stella Ramsaroop is the new kid on the block.
She has certainly made an impression on the Guyanese readers that I know in London . I guess it is the woman's touch. The thing I like about Stella is her readiness to argue with Freddie. She is not afraid of him. Most of the politicians and other leaders tend to back off from arguing with Freddie because he is so good in his rebuttals. But Stella takes him on. That is certainly good stuff from her.
The month of December was particularly good in its political coverage. The letters on Balram Singh Rai opened my eyes though I do not belong to that era and have no first hand knowledge of what went on there. The topics that I found most absorbing were connected to Freddie's debates with Peter Ramsaroop, Moses Nagamootoo and the UG Vice Chancellor saga.
The UG story is old news. I read a few of Freddie's pieces on it. Knowing how politics is played in Guyana , I wasn't surprised at what the government did.
But Guyana has to start putting the right people in the right jobs. I was a bit taken back that for all the controversies that your paper carried on the UG matter, the Government didn't see it fit to at least explain why it offered the job to Dr. James Rose.
I am not particularly supportive of the PPP nor am I particularly critical of what the Government does. But my one accusation against the Government is that it owes the people who elected it an explanation.
A friend of mine told me that when the Minister of Foreign Trade had his American visa cancelled, Dr. Roger Luncheon said that the minister can conduct his business through the internet. I thought he was joking but he said that it was a true statement. I believed him because he is a good friend.
This would never happen in London . Prime Minister Blair would not offer such a rude defence if one of his ministers was in similar trouble. The Government of Guyana would do its image a great good if it debates its critics.
I remember at one time in Barbados , when I lived there with my parents, Prime Minister Tom Adams never let his critics get away with any lies against his government. Presidents and Prime Ministers have to satisfy their people with explanations when matters of grave concern are in the air.
Please keep up the good work. I look forward to reading Stella Ramsaroop, Peeping Tom and of course, the very learned, interesting and fearless Freddie Kissoon.
Your paper is not consistent on the internet. This can be very frustrating. I couldn't access your letter pages three times in November and twice last month. Your archives section is erratic.
When I miss a few issues of Freddie Kissoon, I normally catch up with the archives but your archives slot was not working two weeks ago.
Philip De Freitas
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Stella Says…I Predict 2006 Will Nix the Tricks and Conflicts
by Stella Ramsaroop
(Originally published in the Kaieteur News on 01 Jan 2006)
There is no doubt about it, 2006 will be a year of reckoning – not just in Guyana, but all over Latin and South America. The Economist heralded it as “Latin America’s year of the voter” because no fewer than nine countries in the region will be holding Presidential elections within a 12-month time span.
These countries include Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela and Chile. In fact, it is likely that Chile will elect its first female president this month. The presidential race in Mexico will be an interesting one as well. However, we will all be transfixed on one specific race – the one right here in Guyana.
I believe 2006 will be the year when the two primary parties will lose significant footing and a third force party will move itself into place to get a real shot at governance. That is not to say that the PPP and the PNC will fade away altogether – yet, but that this year is the beginning of the end of these political dinosaurs, as we know them.
The driving factor for this shift will be a combination of the frustration factor and the growing population of those who no longer use race as a seminal issue in the voting booth. I believe the frustration factor will have the most impact on the voters, who are ready to try anything – which includes dumping their former political affiliations – to see some measurable progress.
It is highly possible that as the frustration factor becomes apparent to these established parties, some noteworthy modifications could be imposed to give the appearance of a party that is decidedly pro-Guyana. This would be a positive development for the voter, since the changes would no doubt be catered to the demands of the people.
As such, I believe some obvious alterations to the make-up of the PPP and PNC are in order. I warn you that these changes I am about to suggest will not be popular with our good friends in office, but would nonetheless serve to produce the type of results that should be expected in a nation that is desperate for a promising future.
Firstly, the PPP needs to cut the apron strings. Janet Jagan and her dated politics are holding the party back from its full potential. Every once in a while I see a glimpse of a rogue idea that is outside of the PPP party line, but it is quickly reeled back in for the sake of a united front.
The problem with this type of leadership strategy is that it stifles any brilliance or potential that may actually exist. Guyana is in dire need of a government that encourages the free exchange of ideas from its leaders in an environment that promotes open dialogue.
There is a reason no new ideas are being implemented by the ruling party, it’s because they do not have any. They do not have any new ideas because they are all afraid to present a unique thought that is outside of the acceptable comfort zone because Granny (as Peeping Tom calls her) is going to think someone else is trying to move in on her throne.
If the PPP knows what is good for it, they will toss the throne right along with the decrepit politics and start a fresh movement that is racially inclusive and people focused. In fact, when the voters start showing symptoms of the frustration factor, I think this is exactly what will happen.
Further, the PPP needs to understand that the people are simply too smart to fall for the nonsensical propaganda that Persaud and his staff have the gall to deliver. The sooner the PPP wakes up and realises this point, the sooner they will stop making fools of themselves and can focus on making the pipedreams they promise a reality.
Secondly, the PNC truly needs a complete renovation too. I am not talking about just a new layer of paint. It needs to tear the house down and rebuild it with a completely new look. Corbin simply lacks the charisma needed to sustain a booming party that appeals to the voters.
Instead, the PNC needs some fresh blood out in the forefront with sharp minds and an energetic spirit. I caught wind of their new crime strategy, which is far more comprehensive than I expected, and was impressed by the original ideas it presented (more on this soon). This originality and innovation needs to be applied to the face of the PNC to create an image that is far removed from the failures of the past and ready to help build a strong nation.
The AFC/GTF is of great interest to me as well. I believe there are a number of fine people in these groups, but I also think there are some who just wanted to start a new party because they were mad at their old party and in the process brought the same old political baggage and hopeless tricks acquired in their former positions into their new affiliations.
I told these two groups months ago that they needed to play nice together if they wanted to be taken seriously. This advice still holds true today. These groups need each other if they want to make a dent of any consequence in the upcoming elections. I know both parties want to be THE third force party, but it is politically unwise to make the people choose between two forces when common sense dictates that there should be only one third-force party right now.
There is little doubt that 2006 will be a year of reckoning in Guyana. The people will wise up and hold the politicians accountable for their complacency and incompetence, which will cause a distinct shift in the way politics is practiced.
By changing the political landscape, Guyana will also be changing its economic and social landscape. In my opinion, it would be in the nation’s best interest to see a nearly equal distribution of power in Parliament that includes all three parties (PPP, PNC and a united third force party). This would compel the leaders to learn how to compromise and work together – and we might even see something significant get done for a change.
This year is the year to nix the tricks and conflicts that have burdened the nation. Last year was a wake up call for Guyana, which saw flooded streets as a result of governmental neglect and crime sprees that seemed orchestrated. This year, those who govern will learn to clean up their act. This is a year of reckoning. This year is the year of the voter.
The one unpredictable facet of 2006 is whether it will see the safe return of our beloved Freddie Kissoon from the depths of the political subjectivity. We all know how much of a vice-like grip the AFC can have on inanimate objects, like seats. We can only hope the independent spirit that still lives deep inside our champion can find a way to wiggle free from the talons of abstract political partiality and return to us again.
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
(Originally published in the Kaieteur News on 01 Jan 2006)
There is no doubt about it, 2006 will be a year of reckoning – not just in Guyana, but all over Latin and South America. The Economist heralded it as “Latin America’s year of the voter” because no fewer than nine countries in the region will be holding Presidential elections within a 12-month time span.
These countries include Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela and Chile. In fact, it is likely that Chile will elect its first female president this month. The presidential race in Mexico will be an interesting one as well. However, we will all be transfixed on one specific race – the one right here in Guyana.
I believe 2006 will be the year when the two primary parties will lose significant footing and a third force party will move itself into place to get a real shot at governance. That is not to say that the PPP and the PNC will fade away altogether – yet, but that this year is the beginning of the end of these political dinosaurs, as we know them.
The driving factor for this shift will be a combination of the frustration factor and the growing population of those who no longer use race as a seminal issue in the voting booth. I believe the frustration factor will have the most impact on the voters, who are ready to try anything – which includes dumping their former political affiliations – to see some measurable progress.
It is highly possible that as the frustration factor becomes apparent to these established parties, some noteworthy modifications could be imposed to give the appearance of a party that is decidedly pro-Guyana. This would be a positive development for the voter, since the changes would no doubt be catered to the demands of the people.
As such, I believe some obvious alterations to the make-up of the PPP and PNC are in order. I warn you that these changes I am about to suggest will not be popular with our good friends in office, but would nonetheless serve to produce the type of results that should be expected in a nation that is desperate for a promising future.
Firstly, the PPP needs to cut the apron strings. Janet Jagan and her dated politics are holding the party back from its full potential. Every once in a while I see a glimpse of a rogue idea that is outside of the PPP party line, but it is quickly reeled back in for the sake of a united front.
The problem with this type of leadership strategy is that it stifles any brilliance or potential that may actually exist. Guyana is in dire need of a government that encourages the free exchange of ideas from its leaders in an environment that promotes open dialogue.
There is a reason no new ideas are being implemented by the ruling party, it’s because they do not have any. They do not have any new ideas because they are all afraid to present a unique thought that is outside of the acceptable comfort zone because Granny (as Peeping Tom calls her) is going to think someone else is trying to move in on her throne.
If the PPP knows what is good for it, they will toss the throne right along with the decrepit politics and start a fresh movement that is racially inclusive and people focused. In fact, when the voters start showing symptoms of the frustration factor, I think this is exactly what will happen.
Further, the PPP needs to understand that the people are simply too smart to fall for the nonsensical propaganda that Persaud and his staff have the gall to deliver. The sooner the PPP wakes up and realises this point, the sooner they will stop making fools of themselves and can focus on making the pipedreams they promise a reality.
Secondly, the PNC truly needs a complete renovation too. I am not talking about just a new layer of paint. It needs to tear the house down and rebuild it with a completely new look. Corbin simply lacks the charisma needed to sustain a booming party that appeals to the voters.
Instead, the PNC needs some fresh blood out in the forefront with sharp minds and an energetic spirit. I caught wind of their new crime strategy, which is far more comprehensive than I expected, and was impressed by the original ideas it presented (more on this soon). This originality and innovation needs to be applied to the face of the PNC to create an image that is far removed from the failures of the past and ready to help build a strong nation.
The AFC/GTF is of great interest to me as well. I believe there are a number of fine people in these groups, but I also think there are some who just wanted to start a new party because they were mad at their old party and in the process brought the same old political baggage and hopeless tricks acquired in their former positions into their new affiliations.
I told these two groups months ago that they needed to play nice together if they wanted to be taken seriously. This advice still holds true today. These groups need each other if they want to make a dent of any consequence in the upcoming elections. I know both parties want to be THE third force party, but it is politically unwise to make the people choose between two forces when common sense dictates that there should be only one third-force party right now.
There is little doubt that 2006 will be a year of reckoning in Guyana. The people will wise up and hold the politicians accountable for their complacency and incompetence, which will cause a distinct shift in the way politics is practiced.
By changing the political landscape, Guyana will also be changing its economic and social landscape. In my opinion, it would be in the nation’s best interest to see a nearly equal distribution of power in Parliament that includes all three parties (PPP, PNC and a united third force party). This would compel the leaders to learn how to compromise and work together – and we might even see something significant get done for a change.
This year is the year to nix the tricks and conflicts that have burdened the nation. Last year was a wake up call for Guyana, which saw flooded streets as a result of governmental neglect and crime sprees that seemed orchestrated. This year, those who govern will learn to clean up their act. This is a year of reckoning. This year is the year of the voter.
The one unpredictable facet of 2006 is whether it will see the safe return of our beloved Freddie Kissoon from the depths of the political subjectivity. We all know how much of a vice-like grip the AFC can have on inanimate objects, like seats. We can only hope the independent spirit that still lives deep inside our champion can find a way to wiggle free from the talons of abstract political partiality and return to us again.
Email: stellasays[at]gmail.com
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