SOMETIMES reading is difficult, because at the level of language, lexical entries and syntactical complexities present burdensome challenges. One thinks here of the Deriddas and Eichenbaums etc. Readers can even try Derek Walcott’s ‘Omerus.” However, these exercises in academic parsing are wonderful. Apart from the discipline inculcated, they expand and deepen the mind. All of this is the preamble to thoughts on “Fantasies unfolding into tomorrow’s tragedies.”  In this little essay the challenge one faces is that of logicality and coherence. The writer is ‘all over the place’ and he practises ‘invokings’ that are bereft of understanding and relevance.
In the article, readers see that the presenter makes a ‘personal and unpopular’ claim. His words are:
“Today, I live in a country where a leader, dominated and destroyed by the inner layers of mediocrity, is driven by delusions of grandeur to the point where his failures will be celebrated at the National Stadium on September 16 in a pyrotechnical display of coruscation that masks the tragedies he has created and which will bedevil this nation for a long time to come.”
I contest this asinine frivolity by asking Freddie Kissoon to re-examine the era of President Bharrat Jagdeo. Please, there is a need to ‘do the field work’ locally. Also, when Caricom and the UN evince respect for him (especially The Champion of the Earth Award), I find it stupid to think otherwise. At best, it betrays jealousy from the writer, who seemingly has a penchant to attract the riff-raff of society.  The ‘Day of Appreciation’ was birthed by popular sway. It is most deserved if only for two reasons: President Jagdeo was magnanimous enough to ‘sign himself out’ of the presidency. Also he has set on course a great positive revolution in Guyana that is manifesting itself in massive infrastructural advancements-housing; e-commerce; education; etc. So, the vexation of the writer remains his and his alone. He is not in any way speaking on behalf of anyone.
Now, there seems to be real personal envy in the statement that says that “(t) he President is addressed as Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. (And that this) denotes the frenetic pursuit of image and credibility; qualities and possessions with which Mr. Jagdeo was never endowed.” Lies! Lies! Lies! President Jagdeo is his ‘own man.’ He, irrespective of scathing denouncements from the few ‘usual suspects’ has been able to rise above criticism, fashion his own identity, win the respect of the international community, and make Guyana a far better place than it was during the PNC regime. As regards his doctorates being honorary conferrals, the writer reflects a simplistic approach here. Honorary Doctorates are not just given away.
One came from Russia and the other from India. Maybe the writer should have opposed the investiture. One remembers his presumption in trying to attract the attention of Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Kissoon attempted to persuade the celebrated cricketer to refuse an honorary token from President Bharrat Jagdeo. One can also remember how he tried to write a letter to the Norwegian minister. Vain is the operative word here for Mr. Kissoon.
And yes, there is ‘stupendous growth’ and who says that no one wants to stay in Guyana? Please do the field work and the suggestion is to go and see how many are planning to return. Also, one needs to categorise the kind of persons who want to leave. And when one reads that there are ‘dilapidated schools’ on display for newspaper readers to view with disgust’ that is only appropriate to the select ‘enemy committee’ and its outlet. The writer is on a mission; he once said that the ‘duty’ of the columnist is to ‘seek out’ follies (whether they exist or not).
I close by revisiting how the writer did suggest that Berbicians should ignore President Jagdeo. The best thing for him to do then is to take a visit and address Berbicians. Also, since ‘all Guyanese’ are stupid and are following blindly the ‘Jagdeo trail,’ maybe, arrogance can now be elevated to ‘pure ignorance.’ So dear writer, attempt a stoppage of the ‘Day of Appreciation.’