COMMENTARY: DOH PLAY MAS IF YUH FRAID POWDER

David Abdulah and Ramesh L. Maharaj (Express Photo)

I spent a cold rainy Sunday afternoon looking at a 1995 American neo-noir crime thriller ‘The Usual Suspects’. This movie which had Academy award winning best supporting actor Kevin Spacey was about a small time con man and his daring exploits.

Later in the night looking at the news I thought I was seeing a repeat of the same movie when I saw the usual suspects in Ramesh and David once more disturbing the afternoon newscast. Apparently changing the menu card but dishing out the same, this duo which has used up all the acronyms available spewed their usual garbage.

The people in Central who thought that the flash flooding was bad only then realized it was caused by the political debris which had floated to their television screens. Without a hint of shame these happy clowns announced yet another grouping, probably the 100th in their miserable existence. They hugged and smiled, oblivious to the fact that the population was prepared to face flood waters than to put up with their continuing shenanigans.

Perhaps even more disgraceful than this episode of David and Ram was an article published by the Express a few days earlier by one Sheila Rampersad.This columnist used ‘journalistic license’ to infuriate readers when she tried to build a case for press irresponsibility.

Clearly intended to attack the character of the Prime Minister and by extension the Peoples Partnership Government, Sheila argued that the media is performing its institutional function by reporting allegations in the first instance and THEN INVESTIGATING!

Sheila has absolutely no problem in reporting the most specious allegations and their damning implications or even questioning the character of the source of the allegations. She is comfortable with quoting Panday who was savaged by Kamla in a leadership election and whose mission is to destroy Kamla and the UNC .She is contented quoting the bell ringing St.Rose who was dismissed by Kamla and who has a political bell to ring.

Sheila is now quoting corruption accused $2.5 million bail Jack more than she can quote Shakespeare or the Ten Commandments as she veers into the realms of literary idiocy. Every political victim of Kamla is given the veracity badge under the guise that there is a shred of validity to their ranting.

Sheila cannot hide under the broad statement that when people run for public office they implicitly approve entry into areas of their private lives that could only remain reasonably private while they were private citizens.Is Sheila now advocating a no holds barred expose into the life style of persons in public life?

Is it okay to investigate the underwear preference, whether one prefers g-string to thongs or boxers to briefs? Should eating habits be an issue to be investigated? Is Kamla eating roti,channa and alloo with hands create the impression that one is unsanitary and uncouth as opposed to Sheila being cultured and eating steak with knife and fork?

Sheila and the Express have taken the joke too far in their unbridled and obscene quest to unseat Kamla.Journalist like Sheila must now be judged by their very standards with which they expect of politicians. They who seek to influence public opinion must now subject themselves to the same scrutiny as those they investigate.

Sheila must now answer allegations that as a lady she is seen every night in places of ill repute. She must also answer to allegations that she is paid to write condemnatory articles on Kamla and that she has been promised a high diplomatic posting if the opposition comes into power. And finally, Sheila must reveal whether she prefers boxers to thongs!

You cannot play mas and fraid powder! 

-Rabindra Moonan