Journey to the centre of the Guyanese monarchy
It is not true that monarchial families can do what they want and that they are above the law; may be in Guyana, Saudi Arabia or some other country but certainly not in other countries. In Spain, the King’s daughter has been charged with corruption.
In Guyana, there is a de facto monarchy and it takes in more than just the Presidency and the Cabinet but the hierarchy of the PPP and their families, relatives and friends. From the President right down to the man who slaughtered goats for his son’s wedding at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, to the fish entrepreneur whose son’s marriage took place at of all places, the International Convention Centre, the Guyanese monarchy is visible.
One day, President Jagdeo’s entourage was heading from State House, north along Carmichael Street. When the fleet of vehicles crossed over New Market Street, it was a tight squeeze (not pun intended) for Mr. Jagdeo. There were cars on both sides. The next day an edict came down from the police – no parking on either side of the road on Carmichael Street between New Market and Lamaha Streets.
One day, President Jagdeo’s entourage was heading east on Clive Lloyd’s Drive when a vehicle was reversing from the parapet outside Celine’s Atlantic Resort. The President’s driver almost collided with the backside (no pun intended) of the moving car. The next day an edict came down from the police – no parking outside Celina’s.
A Minister moved into a home on Peter Rose Street in Queenstown. The next day, Peter Rose Street running north from Laluni Street was made into a one way. The then Traffic Chief was Mr. Brian Joseph.
I asked him to explain why the change since that is an area that hardly sees any kind of busy traffic. He told me the order came from Robeson Benn.
Last Thursday, the monarchy was in its usual royal mood. There was an event of a $4 million donation to the rugby association taking place in the National Park. A certain member of the Guyanese royal family could not make a proper left turn into the eastern gate of the National Park on Thomas Road. He claimed that he didn’t have sufficient room to make the turn into the entrance because there were too many parked cars on the northern side of Thomas Road near to the gate.
The very next day, workmen from the Ministry of Works arrived at 6 AM (yes that early) and began to paint no parking signs on the northern side of Thomas Road. It was the usual manifestation of royal vexation so the entire country has to bend to the whims and fancy of the monarchy.
In all fairness to that monarchial member who couldn’t make the wide swing into the park, there were too many parked cars in the way. But he removed an inconvenience to him; Jagdeo removed an inconvenience to him. The Minister on Peter Rose Street wanted certain ease with which to come out of his yard with his car. What about the massive, never-ending inconveniences the honest hard-working citizens of this country have to put up with?
We have entered the PTT series of cars making Guyana an ocean of vehicles. But less than twenty percent of the traffic signals work. The ones at Cafenol corner –Regent and Cummings Streets – have been out for five months now. If this particular king can be annoyed at parked vehicles outside the National Park what about non-functioning traffic lights?
What about the mountains of garbage the Guyanese people have to put up with right outside their homes? Maybe President Ramotar should pay a visit to the Kitty Police Station, the very station where his son, Alexei, failed to turn up to answer questions on a traffic accident in which his SUV hit my nephew (mind you, I didn’t say his son was in the wrong. That is for the police to decide when they are ready to investigate).
Outside of the Kitty Police Station, flowing sewage meets stationary rubbish in a sight that makes you want to vomit. This extends from the Kitty Police Station to the junction with Sandy Babb Street.
Just next to this diseased site is a well patronized butcher shop and not too far there is a popular city pharmacy and a popular fast food outlet. This savagery has existed for more than ten years now. It is Ebola waiting to happen.
But at the end, can you blame the monarchs for wanting to get rid of their inconveniencies? We the citizenry have to blame ourselves for not getting rid of the monarchs, years ago.
