“Either he will be going, running to Venezuela in a box, or he will be going to the US in shackles” (SN, August 13, pages 16-17.). I thank Minister of Labor, Hon. Joseph Hamilton for his candor on the elections trail for the PPP in West Ruimveldt. He was speaking in reference to Mr. Azruddin Mohamed, leader of the WIN political group that is causing so much upheaval in the PPP camp. “In a box…” is light. “In a box” is also as loaded as a speeding sand truck carrying high explosives. In any context, it is troubling. In elections contexts, oh lawd, dawg….
To give Minster Hamilton credit, “to the US in shackles” is understood, accepted, should circumstances be conducive, and due process and all rights are fully followed. I also detect that Minister Hamilton gave himself room relative to his putdown of the WIN’s leader, with “Either…going, running…in a box.” I dissect. Going could be voluntary, via what the Americans call a ‘Box truck.’ Or in disguise (running) with a box of some sort used for full body cover. On the other hand, and more on the loaded sided, “in a box” suggests the involuntary on Mr. Mohamed’s part, given this comes from a government minister. I am thinking of a metal box, or a wooden box, as in a casket. I regret the bluntness, but the context justifies.
Which is which, in Minister Hamilton’s visions? Which is better for the PPP, giving how it is scrambling to keep its head above water in these 2025 elections? Only he can say. It would be terribly distressing, a tragic injustice, to Guyanese should he decide to be reticent in the aftermath of his incendiary delivery into the cauldron of Guyana’s elections. The minister was rather aggressive in West Ruimveldt; he should not be passive now. Not when the sparks from his verbal fireworks roast the consciousness of countless Guyanese. I am ready to give the minister a nod of approval, if he were to be man enough and admit that it was a slip of the tongue, and a poor choice of words. Or, the tumults of elections made his head spin for a moment, and he has now come to his senses. Contrition would command my attention, ease the tensions now raging in these elections, and as specifically directed against WIN and its leader, Azruddin Mohamed.
To repeat a prior position, I believe in a fair fight, and elements of straight refereeing. To assert boldly, as supported by PPP actions, WIN and Mohamed have not been treated to either. This has nothing to do with who is top dog, bad dog, new dog, stray dog, or underdog. It is simply that the mongrelizing of these elections has produced one monstrosity after another, and all as sourced to the PPP. In some respects, what the PPP has been victorious in doing is make Frankenstein and Dracula look like Barbie Doll, and some younger version of Martha Stewart. In sum, Mr. Hamilton is still the Minister of Labor, and should know better than to even go in the vicinity of labor that hints of having some relation to the graveyard, or underground. Labor Minister Hamilton, I think, did well in lowering political labor to new depths that are not healthy for this society.
Now, I segue from the minister and make this personal, extend to other individuals. If other Guyanese, non-PPP speakers or writers, were to say a fraction of what Hamilton said re Mohamed, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defense Force, the Presidential Guard, and the PPP Praetorian Guard on social media would all be out in force, and in a second, in front of that offending Guyanese door. Box and shackles would most likely be replaced by a SWAT team, on the hunt (and with orders) for someone that is described as dangerous and deadly. Possibly, on orders also: don’t waste time with bringing back any prisoners. Whatever the standard, whatever the reaction, for an ordinary Guyanese, that should be the same for a government minister, or any political bigwig of any party, including the PNC and WIN.
On another note, this is where the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) could prove itself, its balance and value to all Guyanese. The ERC should not come to stand for Enabling, Rigging, and Covering Up, when associates of the PPP have fallen short, fouled the air. Finally, when given the most sympathetic review, Minister Joseph Hamilton’s employment of words such as “in a box” against a political opponent were highly improper, unnerving, and maybe even lethal. In a reputable boxing match, that would trigger a penalty. In the Mafia, “in a box” indicates that somebody’s death warrant has been signed. Minister Hamilton has much explaining to do.
