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Guyana’s football community betrayed a great player

Dec 02, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
Apart from Kaieteur News columnist “Fearless” Freddie Kisoon, in his daily columns of 24.11.15 captioned “Wonder who Vibert Butts voted for?” Kissoon’s whose meaningful insight into social issues, albeit the judicial system, tells us that the ordinary man/woman, penniless and powerless, devoid of legal representation, is more than often left to the mercies of some unscrupulous magistrates, ahead of sentencing.
This is especially say based on the draconian laws, as it relates to “ganga”, ranging from consumption, possession and trafficking. Mostly some magistrates and prosecutors, either in cahoots, collaboration or conspiracy defy all logic of sanity. (more on this later). Nevertheless, it remains a burning shame that no sports journalist, member of the football fraternity, consisting of: administration, coaches and former national players of Durdy’s era, along with those of his former club Pele, saw it fit to offer words of comfort. Additionally, expressing utter dismay at the judicial system, which in the 21st Century, still finds favour with imprisoning an individual for three (3) years for a spliff! Utter nonsense!
That an Indo Guyanese, who never smoked a cigarette, joint and consumed alcohol could have dedicated an entire column to the injustice, speaks volumes for itself. Editor, Vibert “Durdy” Butts a fearless striker in his heyday has already gone down in history, scoring our nation’s first World Cup Goal.
This occurred almost forty- years (40) ago, back in 1976 at the GCC ground, Bourda, against Suriname, en route to Guyana’s 2-0 victory. This occurred ten (10) years prior to the implementation of the draconian law, by the late Desmond Hoyte, former President in 1986. While our nation is on the verge of celebrating fifty-years (50) of Independence next year (2016). One is left to wonder what decolonization has offered, in relation to the afore-mentioned. Why not forty- six (46) days of voluntary coaching in the hinterlands, with the GFF providing accommodation, meals and transportation.
By the way, why is there a deafening silence from the GFF administration that “Durdy” publicly endorsed “Team Integrity” as his choice to govern the nation’s football for the next four (4) years?  Moreover, with that administration having a legal practitioner on its executive, Miss. Thandi McAllister and the brethren being unrepresented in Court!
Editor, I may be wrong and when I am, subject to correction. Had “Team Unity” won and “Durdy” was in that predicament, upon pledging his support for the latter, Nigel Hughes or Mark Waldron, or a combination of both would have offered their services “Pro-Bono” in legal representation! By the way, does the judicial system have a “Ganga Connoisseur” and mathematician? Whereby based on the quality of the commodity, the price is determined.
That the inability to pay a fine of $69,000 (46x$1,500) results in additional one (1) year imprisonment. Editor, $1,500 a gram is definitely “High Grade” transcending into $45,000 an ounce, and $720,000 a pound! Is it a Creeper, Red Beard or Sensimalia, from the Berbice River, organically grown devoid of “chemicalisation?”
Can our local economy sustain that price factor, if not the Magistrate and the Prosecutor should be on trial for misleading the public? Is it the “Santa Marta Gold” from Colombia, Red Hill from Jamaica or Vincy from St. Vincent? In the final analysis, I am the humble opinion that “Durdy” have been betrayed by the sport’s hierarchy and a brutal political system, which continues to display dependence in observing the laws of the colonial masters, who have since moved on with research, taxation and decriminalizing of “ganga”! Is turning its back on “Durdy” and pledging to clean up the lawlessness, advocated by the GFF President, not an act of betrayal? Surely, I think so, since subservience to the Government of the day, upon receiving the $4,000,000 Elite League first prize come a few days after Butts’ sentencing.
Why the obstinacy, in non-inclusive governance when former President, the late Janet Jagan, wanted to repeal the draconian law, as it relates to sentencing? However, the former Opposition Leader, the late Desmond Hoyte, emphatically blurted out “no”! Editor, with 90% of those incarcerated/imprisoned for small amounts of Ganga, being Black people, Indo Guyanese still controls the monopoly of Ganga trade. Where is the black monopoly, are we still at the lowest scale of the social/economic ladder, devoid of elevation of spiritual consciousness?
Lester Sealey.
B Field Sophia

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