Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 24, 2010 Letters
Dear Editor,
I respond to Gary Drakes letter (Kaieteur News 23.08.10). Gary raises a number of questions and concerns about what’s really going on in the corridors of Congress Place.
Based on the tone of the letter there seems to be a lot of confusion in Congress Place which is not making the news. It would therefore be helpful if the writer can inform us on “the internal chaos” taking place.
I’m always amazed when I read letters in the daily papers from members/supporters of the PNCR advising other members/supporters to use the various forums in the Party to air their concerns, while they use this medium to criticize others.
According to Gary, “It also stands to reason that the combined opposition would be targeting the PPP base, but this is not being done and instead the main target for 2011 appears to be destruction of the PNCR, both from internal and external forces who are finding no difficulty getting funding, support and access to do the work of the PPP.”
It leaves me to wonder why Corbin is finding it difficult to get funding for his continued occupation of the office of Leader of the Party.
My main concern however, is what is being done by the leadership of the PNCR to convince the electorate that it has a vision for Guyana and it also has the human resources to govern Guyana.
Mr. Drakes should inform readers what the PNCR has been doing internally and externally to showcase itself as the most capable political Party to lead Guyana.
Mr. Drakes highlighted the various atrocities committed by the PPP/C regime but failed to demonstrate how the current leadership of the Party will address the many problems facing citizens today.
Guyanese are fully aware of what sort of government it has. The question really is what has the PNCR being doing to showcase its ability to govern.
From recent events it has shown it could hardly manage, motivate or inspire its 600 members much less govern 600,000 and more citizens. Those are the issues Mr. Drakes should be concerned over.
Shawn Haynes
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Replace the sterile image projected by ‘National Stadium’, with identified and nationally selected heroes
Dear Editor
Last year the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce devoted Vol. 9 No. 4 of their Contact Magazine to the theme BRAND T&T.
Its President’s Editorial addressed the “Quest to Build National Brands”. She spoke of the uniqueness of T&T, of the Calypso image, its Soca Warriors; but also of the need to move beyond being stereotyped.
Other featured articles dealt with such topics as: Leveraging Nation Brand Equity: Potential Strategies for Trinidad and Tobago; Insights into Tourism Branding, followed by several other perspectives.
Interestingly enough Lara was no longer mentioned as a ‘brand’ icon even though a stadium has been erected in his name, and long before that was the Brian Lara Boulevard in Port-of-Spain.
A quick review will show that sports in particular often brand countries: a long time ago England for Cricket, now mostly Football; Brazil for Football; USA for Basketball, Baseball; and amongst others South Africa for Rugby; Norway for Skiing and Jamaica for Athletics.
Then there were/are the individual sporting icons: Mohammed Ali for Boxing, Michael Jordan for Basketball, Federer and the Williams sisters currently for Tennis. The names George Headley and Donald Bradman still resonate in Jamaica and Australia respectively in respect of Cricket.
The Headley Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica is testimony to this, as is the three Ws’ stand in Barbados and the Andy Roberts Recreation Ground in Antigua – memorials to those cricketing heroes.
The identification of Guyana’s genuine sports heroes appears to be somewhat more problematic, despite the acknowledgment of Boxing via the Cliff Anderson indoor facility; the renaming of the South Stand at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda for Rohan Kanhai, and the construction of the Lance Gibbs Stand – also efforts of the Georgetown Cricket Club and the Guyana Cricket Board, who reportedly were responsible for the erection of the Clive Lloyd Stand.
It is uncertain which entity was responsible for its deconstruction, and whether there is any intention to re-install Clive Lloyd, the West Indies most successful Test Captain, whose feats (based on recent and current performances) are unlikely to be surpassed, as a permanent reminder to future generations of sports persons and historians.
Fortunately there is still Clive Lloyd’s Drive to match Shiv Chanderpaul’s Drive and Lance Gibbs’ Street.
It has been argued that despite the interventions of icons like Clive Lloyd, Joel Garner and other former West Indian Cricket greats, the current West Indies players lack the motivation to perform effectively at both the regional and local levels.
With Guyana currently in the relative doldrums of regional competition (despite the recent T20 championship win); and the non-identification of viable successors to Chanderpaul and Sarwan, our cricket prospects seem far from promising.
It is important that starting with the latter two a well organised effort be undertaken on a national scale to memorialise our sporting heroes.
There must be a comprehensive project aimed at documenting and publicising their achievements in every way possible (given the electronic options at our disposal) as legacies that must inspire their successors and motivate future sportsmen and women not only to aspire to, but also to overtake heights already achieved.
One important symbolic step would be, like the rest of the Caribbean, to replace the sterile image projected by the descriptor “National Stadium”, with identified and nationally selected heroes of respective sports, for the complex as a whole and each of its major building components.
For those excited spectators who will fill its spaces, the iconic images should provide incentive to recall, enquire and then identify with their heritage, and make them feel proud of sharing experiences hallowed by history.
E. B. John
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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