My interpretation of Mr Lewis’s article

Dear Editor, I note the letter captioned: `The bonus, subsidies and salaries issues are not about numbers but upholding time-honoured principles’ by Trade Unionist Mr. Lincoln Lewis in the Tuesday, November 20 edition of where he comments extensively on a letter by a Minister of the Government who was commenting on an 11th November, 2018 article by Mr Lewis.

Now, while I have the highest regard for Mr Lewis’ ability in his professional field of endeavour, I agree with some of the points he makes, I disagree with some others, and I seriously disagree with some others. But I am of the view that where all men think alike, nobody thinks at all.

The part of his letter that most startled me, however, was the part where he wrote: “”Having the opportunity of entering many of the villages on the East Coast Demerara and West Coast Berbice and walking around Georgetown, prior to the elections, many said they were not going to vote and stated their reasons why. Some of these were stated in the 11th November article. Conscious of the groundswell against voting, it informed my 11th November article, “Tomorrow is Local Government Election, Vote for . . .” WHICH CALLED ON PEOPLE TO VOTE” (capital letters, mine).

Editor, I note that Mr Lewis had not (repeat, not) – in his 11th November article – called on people to vote. He had called on people to VOTE FOR . . .

In the context of the wording he had used in his 11th November article prior to his last two words in that article, I had interpreted him then as hinting broadly: “Go out and vote, and vote for any party other than APNU or AFC.”

I invite Mr Lewis to consider whether my interpretation then – in the context of the tenor and tone of his 11th November, 2018 article – on the day immediately before the vast majority of us were due to go and vote – was unreasonable.

Perhaps Mr Lewis whose opinions are highly regarded throughout Guyana would consider being more careful in his use of language.

Yours faithfully, George N. Cave