There are several thoughts running through my mind as I read Minister Priya Manickand’s Facebook post referring to yours truly and Dr. Vincent Adams which was sent to me. I remember former President Desmond Hoyte’s statement about a colleague of Manickchand’s ‘mind being as unkempt as his person.’ Hoyte was responding to an argument advanced by Dr. Roger Luncheon that could not have passed muster. I thought were I to make a similar statement society will scream sexism.
Then my mind moved to a famous chant about the goodly minister during a teachers’ strike. The chant, formed in response to the minister’s usually coarse and inappropriate expressions, referred to said behaviours as befitting a yard fowl that requires pressure (pressuring) to make it palatable. Then I said ‘nah,’ because were I to repeat that refrain, the PPP women folks will ignore the content of the message, absolve their colleague from appreciating the need to conduct herself in a manner befitting her public office, and attack the messenger.
Then I remember an article carried in this same newspaper that questioned the minister’s behaviour through the lens of some study of a woman who lived in the wild and adapted to the behavior of her wild family. And I remember Luncheon once referring to the minister’s conduct as a “feral blast.” Did he know something that we may have overlooked?
The dictionary defines feral (an adjective) to mean “(especially of an animal) in a wild state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication; resembling a wild animal.” Again, I won’t be allowed to draw the analogy without some cursing Luncheon in his grave or screaming scientific rigours do not apply to the one holding the portfolio as the nation’s education policy head.
Then I thought of the minister’s parliamentary behaviour, screaming ‘rape, rape, rape!’ in the hallowed halls of the National Assembly when no such unlawful act was being committed on her, neither was there evidence of the possibility during a live recording that people followed. While that behaviour remains coarse, undignified and an insult to real rape victims, within recent months I had cause to scratch my head. For right in the minister’s political home is one who stands accused of such violation and lawlessness. And I wonder if the minister could have been saying something to the nation about the alleged predatory behavior which at the time we missed? I wonder.
I saw an article in the Guyana Chronicle that sought to polish up the minister’s bovine and crude behaviour by casting aspersions on the Teachers Union’s President and General Secretary, and recalled the saying ‘people like to throw their curse on others.” Then I remember Barack Obama’s statement, “You can put lipstick on a pig; it’s still a pig.” He was referring to the minister’s female counterpart in the USA.
How do I respond to the minister’s claim that I am a pensioner, which I am proud of? I am a big man who will not hide my age and am in fact very proud of the genes that allow me to age darn well. When I look in the mirror, looking back at me is a big man in good shape. And I’d have liked to ask the minister to take a similar look in her mirror and turn to this nation and say whether she is a pensioner, and if not, why has mother nature been so cruel to her?
So I will respond, the best way I can, given the above.
In 2018 Priya Manickchand, then Opposition Member of Parliament, issued a statement in support of the teachers who were on strike. Memories serve me well, she told the teachers they had her support and their cause was just. By her statement she confirmed today to the teachers her support was political. The teachers must today hold Manickchand accountable now that she holds the political portfolio to deliver.
In 2018, Irfaan Ali, stood in Parliament and bellowed that teachers deserve “50 percent increase” and the APNU+AFC must pay it. In 2018, Guyana did not have the wealth it has today, neither did we have a $1.146 trillion budget. The evidence in 2024 shows the nation can afford to pay teachers at least 50 percent. Ali must now walk the walk! We all must hold him accountable in 2024 for his statement in 2018. This nation can afford to pay its public school teachers better.
Finally, going by the Minster Manickchand’s conduct, in thoughts and behaviour, it doesn’t take much wondering why our children aren’t learning and the education system is crumbling. Sitting atop it all is one who exemplifies all that is wrong with society, our education system, and the reasons our children are lagging behind their Caribbean counterparts. She sets no good example. I guess, the saying “lipstick on a pig; it is still a pig” may be most apt at this time. Thank you, Obama. For I couldn’t have said it better.
