Thoughts of a minibus traveller

Extract from installation by Yedidiyah Gordon Mirrors Cheerful security guard holding the large gun opens the gate and says yes yes go through when I say I am going to gallery. The heat is on , I am feeling fuzzy as two nights of bad sleep due to the heat and so. Coming to the exhibition as I think I need to do things I planned since sleeping in the heat doesn't make sense even with a fan. Castellani House is cool inside. I go upstairs and see bright colours of the flowers on the wall where I had first seen Bernadette Persaud's Birth of  Lotus when I had visited the gallery the first time.  I see myself in the jigsaw mirror and think right.. your face looking tired. Walk around the pieces, looking though I feel like I am not looking. Bright colours of musical instruments. Fashion, jewellery.  I am not sure why I am not drawn to the bright colours and the jewellery. The mind. See the big mirror. Some people posted on Facebook with selfies. I like the reflections of Yedidid...

  (President Irfaan Ali made a Facebook post in which he accepted the resignation of his comrade Nigel Dharmlall from the Cabinet and the Party. This is an imaginary rewriting of that statement) Fellow Guyanese, as you’re aware, I am in Trinidad and Tobago attending the 45th session of the Heads of Government meeting of CARICOM and the 50th anniversary of CARICOM.  Tonight I want to address you in relation to the allegation that was made multiple allegations of rape and sexual violence which have been made against Minister Nigel Dharamlall.  From the inception, I advised the population that I would allow the system to work.   I would never and the government would never intervene in the system. We’ve allowed an independent investigation; the minister proceeded on leave to ensure that an independent investigation was conducted. I recognise that many survivors of rape and other forms of gender-based violence do not trust the system to work because it has faile...

                          Whose justice?   One analysis of how we feel about law and the justice system in Guyana shows that only about half of us generally trust the justice system.  Most of us - 66%-   believe that the justice system does NOT provide adequate protection and care when in the justice systems. Cynics know that the verdicts in the courts depend on the skills of the defence lawyers and the prosecution. And that there are technicalities which can be missed. 'Not guilty' does not mean innocent.    It is not clear what the 'conviction' rate is and what impact this has on the prevention of sexual violence in Guyana Section 87 of the Sexual Offences Act talks about a National Task Force for the Prevention of Sexual Offences. The President is supposed to convene the Task Force. As with many other things, there has never been any sensible convening, no sensible working of it, ...

  (This report is konfidenshal. if you are not de intended reader of dis report, den please try to mind your bizness. after all , we do not exist.) From: GuybaiIA To: Pappa Prezzy and Baba Prezzy (we continue to report to all Prezidents as in de law) Subject: Report on Month 2 1. Division Chicken bones Agents noticed that chicken bones were found at the door with some balls of fluff. The bones seemed laid out like a six point star.   The security footage did not show anything as the cameras were covered in strange flickering ways. In our briefing, agents felt that we have to be conscious of supernatural threats and people invoking evil forces against us.  Agents found articles on the internet which showed that all modern security agencies monitor UFOS.  We disposed of the one agent who said that  lizards were mating on the camera lens; and that the bones were laid out by a stray cat who had mange . We have created a Division Chicken Bones, which conducts r...

  Some placards from residents of Chenapou Village, Region 8, Guyana as they protested on Monday 22 May, 2023 after the fire at the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory. Images taken from Facebook post shared by Michael McGarrell.   On the night between Sunday 21 May, 2023 and Monday 22 May, 2023, Mary and Martha Dandrade, Bibi Rita Jeffrey, Sabrina John, Loreen Evans, Belnisa Evans, Omefia Edwin, Natalie Bellarmine, Andrea Roberts, Lorita Williams, Nickleen Robinson, Sherena Daniels, Eulanda Carter, Lisa Roberts, Cleoma Simon, Tracil Thomas, and sisters Delecia Edwards and Arianna Edwards along with five- year-old Adonijah Jerome died in a fire which at the Mahdia Secondary School. On 30 May, 2023 - Sherana Daniels died at GPHC. The days since the fire had politicians spotlighting themselves as they exploited the grief of the survivors, the angry and sad reactions to the stories of the grilled windows and doors, the memories of other fires , the hosting of vigils and prayer ser...

Busy day ahead. Got tasks lined up. Cook roti to put in freezer and so. Yoga routine, other things. Grateful that I seem to be moving on with things.  Strange week as pleasure in reconnections and new connections comes with the sadness and loss of  what might have been as the reasons for disconnections come up. But spending some time in reconciling the 'I told you so' to myself with the 'It doesn't matter now' Mix up roti Mindless and mindful. New mix from the days when I used to cook roti for my parents. Special mix, and the anxiety that it would be soft and manageable for them. Until it no longer was soft and manageable and I stopped.  As I piece out the loi, roll it imperfectly as it doesn't matter to me.. memories of calling my mother to say 'it is ready'. As she would then stand and use her hands to make the same sized round smooth balls and call me to say she is done.   I took a picture one time. Laid out in neat rows. I have done this for myself ...

Media Credibility A media worker told me one time that the media sets the agenda. She was always pushed me to be careful. To be careful not only about when the issues I was concerned about did not get into the media, but to be careful too when people might seem to 'support' the things I support. I am a citizen who checks headlines and reads some stories daily, and shares some stories. I do not bother with some news outlets which might have nice stories from time to time , but who tell stories in ways which I do not agree with. I use the print media mostly to share opinions.  I actively engaged the media between 1997 and 2016 or so to support the advocacy work of organisations and groups with which I was involved. One journalist and I had personal problems and he told me he would not report any story in which I was involved. I would like to think he wanted to avoid unconscious bias, rather than a way to silence me. I ensured that I stayed away to avoid any lack of reporting. Ano...