By GHK Lall- The mind can be a funny thing. Mine played a trick on me, did a somersault. Now that King Charles III came and went, it’s confession time. He should come again. Guess who would lead the parade, the welcoming party? Incidentally, there could be a temporary halt to calls for an apology and its grandaddy -money (reparations). Really, he should come again. Here’s why.
Whether in a taxi, or driving around, there are the signs! All over Georgetown. His distant granddaddy would have been pleased with the PPP for keeping the name. The signs tell many stories. Only a few are presented today. Sand heaped in neat, respectable mounds at the edge of the streets. Multiple construction sites in the city tidied up to honor a king.
Who cares that he was an ornament who hung around his mother’s skirts well past the age of 60? If ever there was a praying man, it had to be the patient Prince of Wales, Charles Phillip Arthur George. By George! He was praying for his mum. For her to go on a trip. So, he could tryout the throne. But here he came, and the PPP Govt was all aflame. I just spoke of neat streets.
When was the last time that any Guyanese driver, pedestrian, or motorcyclist could recall seeing bright, fresh, appealing road signs? I did and my lens are on the Coke bottle side. Road markers arrayed in a straight line. Road cops looking every inch like traffic cops and not rogue cops. Bobbies without the pirate hats (and the BBC accents).
The man who stole the show was not Pres Ali, notwithstanding the operatic showman he is. It was Guyana’s Traffic Doctor, Senior Supt Mahendra Singh. Turn left. Don’t turn right. No straightaway ahead. Go East. Stay away from the west. North is out, south is in, and the more southerly the better. Mr. Traffic in Guyana was Mr. Mahendra Singh. Keep it moving, blokes. Can’t keep the king waiting.
Where he found the uniformed bodies from doesn’t interest me. It’s how they were marshalled and sent on their road missions by Mr. Mahendra. Arise, Sir Mahendra! Take a knee. He deserves the accolades. Well done, sir! Now, there’s a favor to ask, just a little one, sir. Can Guyanese be graced with this same kind of traffic diligence, traffic discipline, and traffic detail daily, please? Saturday is on me, and Sunday is an extra freebie. With 14 national holidays, that’s another two weeks off from the grind of the roads for both Mr. Mahendra’s men and the men and women of this mad, mad, mad, world called Guyana.
Revisiting my hard words, I owe King Charles III an apology. Never mind that he can’t stop looking down his nose at hot, sweaty natives, and whisper an apology (who’s going to hear amid the thunderous vibrations of national noise nuisances!). My apology is for all the improvements he made happen in Guyana, during his flying 48-hour visit. Pres Ali was all warm and fuzzy, touchy-feely, and cheerios. Warning: the British are too fond of hugging. Rather ghastly, bad form, and all that blather…. Vice President Jagdeo walked the straightest that I have ever seen.
Prime Minister Phillips changed overnight. He developed a huge tolerance for noise. Bishop Edghill got so lost in God Save the King that he forgot about saving himself. C’mon, there has to be a place for the Hon Anil. Oh yes, rule of law in action: The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Azruddin Mohamed got arrested. Again. (More soon [after the king leaves]). It was good news for the British High Commissioner: he didn’t have lookout from the corner of his eye to check if Guyana’s Opp Leader was bearing down on him with hand outstretched, and bent on making his day.
Only a monarch of extraordinary prowess could have made all this possible. Thus, I am jumping on the bandwagon. Do come again, Highness. Lighten up Guyanese lives. Give Guyanese something to celebrate. An apology and some money could convert me into a believer, and supporter of the monarchy. I trust that the British High Commission will convey my gratitude and regards.
