I learnt via the media yesterday that Police Commissioner Henry Greene, in fulfillment of his request to His Excellency the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, has proceeded on leave. A little over two decades ago this qualified public administrator and lawyer, along with others including  Ret’d Maj. Gen. Norman Mc Clean, Ret’d Deputy Police Commissioner Sydney Bumbury, and Administrator Alan Johnson were required to take note by our insightful lecturer,  Jai Goolsarran of lessons of Barbara Tuchman’s: “The march of folly: From Troy to Vietnam”. Tuchman explains folly for the purpose of the book, as acts that have to be clearly contrary to the self-interest of the organisation or group pursuing them; conducted over a period of time, not just in a single burst of irrational behaviour; conducted by a number of individuals, not just one deranged maniac; and, importantly, there have to be people alive at the time who pointed out correctly why the act in question was folly (no 20/20 hindsight allowed). Why this reference to “group think” regarding Commissioner Greene’s (individual) current situation? Because Jai’s students were prevailed upon to include in their decision making process the likelihood of engaging in “folly” beyond public policy formulation; and to include as well, an evaluation of the conduct of the policy implementer. Therefore, it boggles my mind to comprehend how this constitutional custodian of the nation’s civil protection would sanely engage in such a reckless “march”.

In Guyanese parlance a swordsman is considered a male who has played the field, a sort of Don Juan spurred egotistically by multiple female conquests and trysts. According to reports the commissioner had cause to wonder some time ago if he was being sanctioned because he liked to trouble (interfere with, my emphasis) the girls. The character of the complainant also raises eyebrows.

And so, while we await the findings of the investigation I am moved to contemplate whether, like Dominic Strauss- Khan, Commissioner Greene’s would merely trip on his “sword” or like Mark Anthony would be brought down by it.