Dear Editor,
IN MY previous letter, I indicated that I would have written to you again in the hope that some answers to the questions I asked then (and those of Nigel Hinds in his letter around the same time) would have been forthcoming.I don’t think I saw anything in response, and so my thoughts remained unshared in the scenarios in which I had envisaged them. But the Kaieteur News editorial today (June 9th), headlined ‘Political Self Destruction’, reignited this eerie-sure feeling that something is not right. It can’t be.

Whether the aim is to destroy Harmon politically, so as to pave the way for others or to satisfy over-inflated egos by flaunting the power of the fourth estate, or a combination of both, I don’t know; but for sure there has to be some kind of a conspiracy here.

I still cannot see why making Tiwari an honorific advisor, or backing-off GRA from Bai Shan Lin, would warrant this continuing public attack campaign by the Kaieteur News, and surely ‘others’ behind the scenes.

It warrants, therefore, that I share with you some of my thoughts as regards who are some of the players-cum-intellectual authors in this ugly scheme. This letter will start with two; others and the plot in more detail are to follow as things evolve.

In order to avoid libel and the excuse for non-publication, I have to resort to satire — which I am advised should escape the discerning of, say, the ordinary passenger in the route 42 minibus.

I hope, however, that some readers and of course the actors will figure who I am talking about.
As is their right, they can agree or disagree, or they can even believe wrongly who I am referring to. Either way, I can imagine them asking ‘who the hell is William Tell?’

So, let me start with the snake. Irrespective of its realization that it can get no further than where it is, it cannot change its habits. It will continue to look to see what can be done to whom it perceives is in the way of its ambitions, using its accumulated venom smartly and sparingly.
Venom use in this instance is in direct contrast with the ad lib use of its ‘snake oil’, as we saw during the election campaign, leading those unsuspecting and gullible constituents into a mess that they will have to cleanse themselves of. (But that is another story for another time)

Because this letter must not be too long, let me just ‘wrap-up’ on the snake by saying that the Chinese have no regard or respect for it. After all, it is no secret that they eat the darn thing.

The mongoose, on the other hand, is in a different category altogether. According to Wikipedia, it was introduced in the Caribbean Islands, including the Bahamas, to help control the snake. But being the resourceful ‘smart Alec’ that he is, Mr Mongoose quickly adjusted him game plan against the snake, with his eyes on ‘the big fat chicken’ instead.

He would allow the snake all the sabre-rattling it wants, in full confidence that it will triumph over the snake when the time comes. After all, it did happen before, and for sure he has read Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Riki-Tiki-Tavi’ a hundred times and more.

As to whether Kaieteur News is part of this conspiracy, that is for the readers to judge; but the publisher and editor ought to be cautioned that the moral of their own editorial applies equally to themselves. It is not only politicians who are sweetened by power, or use it to feather their nests for future ambitions and aspirations. As a matter of fact, that is somewhat acceptable in politics. When media houses become so pompous as to crave, and even flaunt, power to influence the state of play, then we are in for more trouble.

What Kaieteur News did to the PPP Government is no secret. And having tasted the sweetness of the power in doing so, and as rumour has it that a new political party is in the pipeline, it would appear that the modus used against the PPP is now being adjusted and fine-tuned for continuation. Those selected as targets are apparently not envisaged as a part of the new dispensation.

Harmon, though, seems to be a fighter. Last I heard, he was listening to folk and country music. Let me guess: ‘Sly mongoose’ and Charley Pride’s ‘Snakes crawl at night’ may be in repeat mode.
I hope to write again soon.

Yours faithfully,
WILLIAM TELL