IT is interesting how much in common we share with those of our CARICOM neighbours things such as food, dress a colonial past and of course cricket. The passion for the game with all its ups and downs the highs and lows and the endless rum shop discussions where every boozed patron try to make his point as to the way forward for the team, no animosity or vile contempt for each other but all in the true spirit of the game. However, very many differences exist when one gets into the area of politics and the acute contrast is found in the way we conduct ourselves here in Guyana as against the rest of CARICOM. I recently held a political discussion with a friend here in St Lucia who was privileged to have studied in Guyana; so he has first hand view of politics in his home territory as well as in Guyana. The first set of words that came from his lips were “Bon Dieux Bon Dieux” an exclamation of God ”that’s how them people behave in Guyana over politics.” I responded sure right and you haven’t seen anything yet. You see my friend could not believe his ears or his eyes as to the acrimony that is so visible here at election time.
To someone who is accustomed to electioneering being done in a friendly environment with statements  (some out of context) made from both sides of the political divide each castigating the other while trying their best to woo the voter over to their camp all of this done in the atmosphere of camaraderie.
At the end of the day someone will win and life must go on. In St Lucia there are cases where a husband is known to support one political party and his wife another when the results are in both parties pitch in with a celebration as it is commonly said here we celebrate for the P.I.P meaning party in power and that’s the way of the St Lucian political world.
Not so in Guyana one has to be very extra careful of his or her political views far less make known your political affiliation this spells violence with a capital V and this is a notable feature of the Georgetown constituency and of the PNCR party. In fact, my St Lucian buddy was forced to leave the home of his Guyanese host for the very same cause; he was overheard discussing Guyanese politics and as the Guyanese counterpart said “that boy can’t talk against my party and live in dis house.”
This brings me to the point where I shall relate two unfavourable incidents: the first took place in Guyana in 1998 at the height of the PNCR rampage when I eavesdropped in a conversation with another commuter on a Route 41 South bound bus. When I exited the bus at Church of the Transfiguration a man kept pace with me wherein I enquired of him for this action, his response was an unsavoury racist remark. I was now well aware of his motive and imminent action to which I hastily retreated to the other street not willing to allow the foolishness of an extremist to get to me; it was not worthy of a response in kind.
Other such aggressive behaviour was encountered here in St Lucia when I appeared on the popular Rick Wayne television show expressing my views of life and politics in Guyana when again PNC supporters called in to make their hostility known, one caller even went the length to say “go home to Guyana and talk da talk dey go fly your neck.” This clearly shows the vehemence that is a marked characteristic feature of the opposition that even in a foreign country they cannot be civil or at least control themselves when confronted with views that go contrary to theirs.
Elections are soon to be held in Guyana as well as in other CARICOM countries when the peaceful and civilised behaviour of a CARICOM neighbour would be contrasted head-on with the rough uncivil hooliganism of some Guyanese.