Ole people say “ de Darg wagging de tail” when de American Airlines (AA) has authority to prevent Prime Ministers Rowley and Gone-soft, de two most senior Prime Ministers in de English speaking Carry-Beyond and Carry-Come, ‘from checking through’ the VIP Lounge at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana, another Carry-Come/Carry-Beyond member State. Interestingly both gentlemen were departing from Guyana, way dey were guests, participants at de recently concluded 2023 International Energy Conference and Expo.

Lie-Za could be sarcastic when she ready, she say : “serve dem right, who ever gave Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) de authority to run dey Nah-shun-all Airport should be locked-up.”

All joke aside, dis incident would qualify as one ah Geneva’s biggest Con-vent-shun Joke in 2023 if not de decade. But foh us Carry-Beyond people, dis is not ah laughing matter in fact it is embarrassing and disrespectful.

But de mill-an-dollar question is why Prime Minister Gone-Soft of all Carry-Beyond citizen, self-proclaimed “Ancient Warrior, Five Star General and World Boss.” Ah few years ago he was bestowed de Order of Roraima, Guyana’s second highest national award foh his service and contribution to de cause of regionalism and regional integration. Recently he assumed presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the first CARICOM country to be elected to the position. Throughout his tenure as PM, PM Gone-Soft has been globe trotting to Cuba, Venezuela; Nicaragua, India, Tie-Won, collecting Nah-shun-all Awe-Wards, University Doctorates like souvenirs going out ah style. De man build an International Airport, dat will one day be named in his honour “de Ralph Gonsalves International Aiport.” So really and truly it was like ah kick in his gut- oops! stomach when PM Gonsalves was kicked out of de VIP lounge in de Guyana Airport.

Guyana playing down de seriousness of de issue, like throwing water on duck’s back. But dey’ ah feeling dat “Dey’s more in de marta dan way dey in de pistle.”

Is ah lot ah development, both industrial and pll-it-to kill going on in Latin and South America.

All kind ah things happening in dat region. One ah de good things is dat Guyana has struck oil, and if dey’s no war foh oil, and all goes well, dat country is likely to be ah leading world producer of oil and so will de country benefit. But… if Guyana an independent country, has no say over matters like simple courtesies accorded to Diplomats and VIP at its own Airport, despite several appeals to Geneva, de home of Conventions, all to no avail. Put it another way, if American Airlines- and ley me emphasize “American” is dictating to Airport Officials in Guyana, dat dey will be no distinction between diplomats, VIP and regula citizens, all man ah man, den heaven help Guyanese and Carry-beyond people. Sooner or later de real story will all come out.

And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy

Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.