Frankly Speaking Why I never turned into a thief

Perhaps I do bore some of my regulars by pledging that “this will be my most brief yet.” (See, I wasted one whole sentence above.)

But because this social issue easily attracts many pages I shall try hard to be succinct. And, quickly, readers will see how I have personalised the issue to – hopefully – make my point. Even though my perspective and conclusions are from generations past.

Simply put, I am supporting an Annie Baliram who was moved to write a letter responding to Dr Mark Devonish, a British Guyanese who has obviously decided to join appropriate debates engendered locally. Baliram advised Dr Devonish that “the majority of Guyanese never fell into crime even though Guyana is poverty-stricken.” I think “poverty-stricken” is a little harsh, but I write to endorse her sentiments about oldtime morality in the midst of familial and community need.

She really dwelt at length with the ability of the mind to try to overcome poverty without resorting to thievery, other crime and corruption. She also wrote about moralistic approaches and dysfunctional families of today. All that was to make the point to the UK-based Guyanese – who himself claims to have lifted himself out of Guyana’s poverty years ago – that just “giving ghetto youths a ladder” to empower themselves will not prevent them from committing crime. She was hinting at the “get-rich-quick” syndrome wherein our current dot.com generation sees crime being enacted at the highest levels.

She noted tellingly that government politicians (especially) do not speak out against crime these days.