3pm. Manifesto Launch.
Stabroek Market Square.
Young Emmanuel is heading home from school as he does daily. As he is walking by the square he ...sees a crowd and as inquisitive boys do, moves in to see what is going on.
He spots Brigadier David Granger who had just arrived and taken a seat.
Emmanuel goes to Aurdell Glasgow and tells her he'd like to meet Mr. Granger.
Aurdell tells me of Emmanuel's wishes.
We were still a few minutes from starting off so I ask Emmanuel to come under the tent where Mr. Granger was.
Emmanuel came around and
immediately as he was within
speaking distance of Mr. Granger
he froze up.
After a few seconds he reaches out
and "fists up" Mr. Granger who,
as always, willingly obliges.
Emmanuel freezes up again.
He cannot move.
He can't believe what is happening to him.
Mr. Granger opens his arms and
signals to Emmanuel that he's just a man,
he is real and he is normal.
Emmanuel smiles but still can't move.
He is overwhelmed.
A boy, on a Thursday afternoon
walking home from school
as he does every day
and all of a sudden
he is in the presence
of the incoming President.
Mr. Granger gets up and
hugs Emmanuel who remains frozen.
He then puts his hand
on Emmanuel's shoulder
and has a quiet conversation
which is between the two of them only.
Mr. Granger hugs Emmanuel again
and he relaxes a little.
In the meantime people all around
see what is happening and
rush to take photos with their phones.
This is the man the PPP says is a monster.
This man,
whose three year old granddaughter
has him wrapped around her little finger
and who Emmanuel
is in complete adoration of.
This man. Gentle. Warm. Caring.
This man who Kojo McPherson photographed hugging his wife as they walked together
under an umbrella in the rain
heading to breakfast
next to a hinterland airstrip.
The truth is the PPP has nothing on this man. Nothing.
Not one damn thing.
They speak of militarization
and try to sling mud
but have not produced
one iota of evidence
about any wrongdoing on his part.
This man. This honourable, caring man.
