…the rotten apples
The minister of home affairs has obviously had it with the excuses from the police force brass on why the patent abuses by policemen aren’t being reduced but are actually rising. There are no excuses any more. The stations were run down, they’ve been all rebuilt. There was no transportation… there’re now official cars galore – in addition to duty-free cars for a whole lot of medium and top brass. There are new training schools in Berbice and Essequibo. And on top of it, there’ve been increased salaries.
Now, this is a sore point… we all know that in absolute terms, the salaries of everybody here are very low when you compare them with our neighbouring countries’. And the police are no exception. But they took the jobs, no? There are some members of the police force in Guyana, as in most Third World countries, who’ve got the wrong attitude about the authority and powers conferred on them to “protect and serve” the people.
The bad apples don’t see their jobs as “serving the people”, but as an opportunity to “fleece the people”. They want to live high off the hog… and rather than doing their jobs and waiting to get promoted and earn higher salaries, they take the quick and dirty route. Which Guyanese who drives a car or rides a bus hasn’t witnessed policemen shaking down drivers for a “raise”? If any official – including the minister – denies this, he’s gonna face a credibility gap. The police are perceived as bullies – with good reason because of the rotten apples – and they relish the role since it makes the fleecing easier.
Well, it appears the police might’ve taken the next step in their depredations on the hapless populace in Berbice. There are allegations of some police ranks – in one of the new vehicles – doing some fleecing at gunpoint in that neck of the woods. But while the minister reacted with alacrity to demand action from the police top brass – remember he can only “recommend” in “operational” matters – the said top brass has moved the accused ranks out of the station – pending an investigation. But we can’t stop here. That attitudinal change for the police to see their role as to “serve and protect” must be inculcated. But the opposition has blocked the legislation on even the name change to reflect this!
We hope the investigation is speedily and transparently conducted and action taken immediately. We need to start removing these bad apples – before the entire barrel becomes rotten.
Surely, we haven’t reached that stage as yet, have we?
…Power in cricket
There’s a whole lot of people who’re bent out of shape because of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) flexing its muscles in its grab for power. They see a great deal of hypocrisy in this move because only so recently when India were cricketing minnows, the BCCI used to whine about not getting any respect from the English and Australian boards in the ICC.
But the world does turn, doesn’t it… and so does the worm. It’s a sad but proven truth that abused children do become abusive parents. And it’s now clear that the same psychology operates with cricket boards. But the more expansive truth of the matter is that it’s all about power. And the money that India generates in cricket is being translated into power.
Just as it is in other forms of power – including the political realm – expect the hegemonic BCCI to insist in getting its way while mouthing platitudes about acting “in the best interest of cricket”.
Just like the U.S.’s LEAD programme, no?
…keeping grass illegal
Looks like we’ll be sticking to the straight and narrow when it comes to lighting up a spliff, according to the minister of home affairs. There was an old English king named Canute who said he’d roll back the tides, also.