I am wondering what David Granger really means by asking that residents of Buxton remember the sufferings they underwent, during security occupation of the village, during the worst episodes of the crime spree. This beckoning took place at the PNCR-APNU’s grand campaign rally at the Buxton Line Top road on Saturday night. During the event, a number of speakers called for the “healing” to begin in the village, where crime and disorder reigned from 2002 and continued for about five years. So I am wondering how to reconcile the beseeching for a ‘remembrance’ and that of a ‘healing’ to begin.
I am bothered by the invoking of the name of Shaka Blair. The deceased, is synonymous with anarchy. No less a person than Frederick Kissoon during a series of articles in 2003, in one titled “A time to kill” wrote “A lot of sympathy has been garnered for Shaka Blair through the talk-show hosts, certain television newscasts, the PNC and, to a lesser extent, the WPA. But Shaka Blair was one of the masterminds behind the Mash Day jailbreak”. This gang which became entrenched in that village drove fear into all Guyanese. So Granger’s invoking of his name must be viewed with suspicion.
This brews further suspicion when one also examines Granger’s promise during his address at the said event to “give the PPP/C something to remember”. I mean it is not like Guyanese are forgetful-the crime spree during the ‘kick down the door’ era; the emasculation of high-profile citizens; the assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney; the wrecking of the education system; the Hope Estate labour for basic foods; the food lines; the banning of especially split peas and flour, and I can just go on. I think that a healing has come, and it is now time to ditch the PNCR-disguised as APNU just once and for all. This will make the healing complete.