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Mar 03, 2013 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
The first thing I read last Thursday morning was a Reuters news item on the Pope who has just retired. The writer of the story could not have missed a most journalistic contradiction. It said that in keeping with his shy and modest ways, the Pope quietly withdrew from the world stage and will live in a palace in the countryside of Italy.
Looked at from any angle this is a contradiction in the human character. How can someone be modest yet live in a palace? Why does a modest disciple of Jesus Christ want to live in a palace?
I went on to look up on the issue of his retirement and indeed he is going to live in a luxury villa. It is no secret to the peoples of the world that the inhabitants of the Vatican enjoy a type of living that is definitely way above high-class; maybe super class.
Inside the residence of the Vatican, the interior settings are far more luxurious than anything you can find at the White House, Number 10 Downing Street or in the official homes of European Presidents.
I remember when I was freshman at University there was a big write-up in the region about the newly established embassy of the Vatican in Trinidad. At the time it was described as a palatial structure far outstripping any other embassy anywhere in the English-speaking Caribbean.
The Vatican for me remains a paradox but then again, not versed in religion, I would not know the justifications for some of the actions of the inhabitants of the Vatican. The Pope previous to the one who retired last week, could not walk, move around, talk, see or read properly yet he chose not to retire. He died on the job.
I was in the High Court last week waiting to hear the arguments in the injunction that the Parika vendors brought against the Region Three RDC when I ran into Moses Nagamootoo. Moses told me that I should check on Fazal Khan because he is in the throes of a not so harmless medical condition.
So Bert Wilkinson and I turned up last Thursday to see our mutual friend Fazal, the former husband of one of the tsarinas in the Office of the President, Gail Teixeira. Khan remains one of the modest and open-minded PPP activists I ever met. I always wondered why he stayed so long in the PPP. It is a loss to anti-dictatorship politics in Guyana that Fazal may never be active again.
It is always interesting talking to Fazal. Bert came out plain and said to Fazal’ “You must go on record about Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) and other matters.” I chimed in and asked Fazal to give me permission to publish again (yes again) the incident that caused President Janet Jagan to hound him out of his manager role at GAC.
Bert put the tape recorder inches away from Fazal and the flow began. According to Fazal, in 1997 approaching the date for national elections, Mrs. Jagan announced an A-Team to contest the election in which Bharrat Jagdeo would be third in line. Endorsement was sought at a district conference.
After the debate with many voices questioning the supersonic leap of Jagdeo, it was time to vote. Fazal’s hand was the only one voting against. Mrs Jagan never forgave Fazal Khan for his act of defiance. Months after, Mrs. Jagan became President of Guyana and Fazal Khan was out of a job.
Let’s go to Cuba. Last week, Raul Castro announced that in 2018, he will step down from power. Since 1959, he has governed Cuba with Fidel Castro. In 2018, he would have chalked up fifty-eight years of control. Since he became President two years ago, Castro has admitted many failures in policy-making and has changed course in radical ways, but he has not admitted that he and his brother were responsible for the failed policies.
Finally, back to Guyana. Last week Clement Rohee said he was once jailed. When may I ask and for how long? My memory tells me it was for a couple of hours at Brickdam when he and I were arrested (not together, but hours apart) for picketing against the 1989 Budget outside Parliament (which under the PNC Government didn’t have barricades that prevented picketing). He was released on the intervention of Dr. Jagan. I had to spend the night in the lock ups.
Clement why did the US suspend your visa in 2004? Please tell the Guyanese people what caused the US to do that.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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