KINDLY allow me some space to respond to Mr. Christopher Ram’s letter published in SN of 16/9/11 titled “The killing of Adolphus James is an indictment of our society” Mr. Ram is most accurate that Mr. Adolphus James’s brutal murder condemns Guyana.
The murder of a man who is so old is despicable and a heinous crime.
Public hanging and flogging should be the order of the day for these criminals.
Where I disagree with Mr. Ram is only his lamentation of the pay as miserable as it was, that  the deceased got. There are many good qualities of Mr. James that Mr. Ram could have also emphasised.
I have no quarrel with his tasking scrutiny of our relevant ministers. That’s the job they choose. As usual our politicians use everything as political fodder for political leverage. It is expected in a democracy. Mr. Ram cannot be wrong to hold them accountable.
What escapes Mr. Ram is Mr. James at this age still finds it possible to earn an honest living rather than sit idle. We, especially Mr. Ram, can advance this trait for our youths to follow. They are without any moral compass.
I find this 91-year old Mr. Adolphus James possessing an admirable trait worthy of commendation and emulation.
Yet I find Mr. Ram without any similar outrage when another old timer Mr. Harold Rachpaul, 84, owner of the Rachpaul’s Drugstore on Robb Street, Georgetown, was found dead, gagged and bound in his home. Indeed Mr. Ram seems picky on whose murders seem to bother him. Coincidence or strategic motivation?
In examining the cleanliness and the fashionable state of Mr. James’s clothes, it is also commendable. And compare his hygiene, clean shaved face and his striving to be productive. Mr. Ram as an aspiring political operative can do a little better to highlight the best amongst us. Making President Jagdeo the butt of his wrath only refocuses Mr. Ram’s anger. President Jagdeo’s retirement package is a done deal approved by Parliament.
Mr. Ram can join the UF or AFC who champion free enterprise like Mr. Ram seems to do. Yet he has not done either. No unity there. Is it a surprise? Unions are champions of workers rights. Mr. Ram cannot simultaneously be both a workers’ champion and a capitalist free enterprise advocate. The latter habitually pay less for bigger profits as their primary motive. They only care for themselves.
You see why Mr. Ram becomes suspect? But maybe he is neither capitalist nor worker’s advocate. Which? We will never know.
This old time black magic ethic  that Mr  James represents is either dead or dying.
We need a rebirth of such wonderful, old fashioned wholesome ethics and values.
The current actions of some of our prominent media figures represent more of the same that discourages productivity. I still am hopeful that there will be change.
The infamous can outdo themselves. The change we seek, indeed need, can begin amongst ourselves as that half-naked fakir Mahatma Gandhi so admirably said.