Soca star Destra Garcia is being denounced by opponents of Guyana’s ruling political party for her scheduled performance at a campaign rally for the PPP/C two days before Monday’s election.
“You are being used as pawn in an attempt to distract your fellow West Indians at a very serious and critical time in their country’s history,” wrote Michael A Leonard on Garcia’s Facebook page.
His is one of many angry and disappointed comments flooding the page since the announcement that Garcia would be one of the performers at the PPP/C’s Unity Concert and Rally Saturday at the Guyana National Stadium.
According to information on Leonard’s page he lives in Georgetown, Guyana, but no other facts about him are visible to the public.
The November 28 election is expected to be close in a nation riven by racial conflicts, with a large portion of the electorate distrustful of the PPP/C or People’s Progressive Party/Civic and its controversial leader President Bharrat Jagdeo, whom they accuse of ruling with a heavy hand, exacerbating racial divisions and worse.
“Please, Destra, do reconsider your commitment to these people,” wrote Gerhard Ramsaroop, in comment structured like a formal letter and which began “Dear Destra”. Ramsaroop, who said he’s a fan of Garcia, has 1,371 friends and, according to his “info” section, also lives in Georgetown.
“As you can see your image and name are being used on a poster saying ‘Vote PPP’,” he wrote. “I am therefore pleading with you not to let yourself be used in this manner.”
Like many of the others posting their objection, Ramsaroop accused the PPP/C of engaging in corruption and criminal activity.
“Please, refuse the offer to be bought by this corrupt PPP regime,” wrote Michael Anthony Benchop, also calling himself a fan of Garcia. It could not be confirmed if this was the Michael Benchop who is one of the most vocal critics of the government and who believes that he spent five years in jail as part of a set up by the administration, which has been in office for more than a decade.
Lutalo “Brother Resistance” Masimba, president of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation, said he doesn’t condemn an artist’s decision to perform at a political event.
“Artists supposed to be big enough to make their own choices in terms of where they perform,” he said.
But Masimba, who said he wouldn’t perform at a political event, had this warning: “If it looks like you endorse one party, then the supporters of other parties will come out against you. You have to take that into consideration when you’re going to perform on a political platform.”
They were in the minority, but some of those posting on Destra’s wall supported her decision.
One of them was John Navindra Williams, who posted comments on his page critical of the Alliance for Change, one of the parties challenging the PPP/C.
“Destra gon mash up de place ….? from GT….down wid de haters,” he wrote.
In typical PPP faihson. Dumb down the population so they can pull the wool over the Guyanese eyes.The AFC must vigorously protest this assinine proposal and the AFC must be at the helm of exposing the true impacts of this legislation which is only geared to provide cheap labour, turn Guyana into a sweatshop economy and leave an artificial legacy of improvement for the outgoing administration.The impacts of lowering the age limit for employment will be detrimental to the Guyanese society: It will encourage a higher rate of high school dropouts. Imagine a country where a large number of the skilled and educated have left for greener pastures and the remaining adults only have a grade 8 or 9(equivalent to Forms 2 and 3)education. What sort of productive economy can such a nation promise? It will displace a more skilled adult workforce purely because of the cheap labour a child can provide; afterall, a child does not have rent to pay, a family to upkeep, does not own a car and therefore doesn’t have the overhead that comes with it, etc. etc. It will have the effect of increasing crime (murder, theft,sexual assault and abuse etc) because it’s what ultimately happens in a society where a large population of its adults are jobless and hopeless. It will ensure a perpetual cycle of illiteracy and poverty.The AFC has a mandate to ensure that Guyanese people of every party affiliation understand that such legislation is not in their best interest.
I tried signing in with your Facebook Connect feature with my Facebook account so that you can verify that I am who I say I am.
However, as my previous comment said, My name is Michael A Leonard. I am the owner of a web development company called Xcess Interactive <a href="http://www.xcessi.com” target=”_blank”>www.xcessi.com and I can be reached on 592-601-0111 should you require further information
I am Michael A Leonard and I am very real. I am a Guyanese and I am passionate about moving my country out of the 'dark ages'
For far too long the ruling government have oppressed the citizens of this beautiful country of Guyana with starvation wages, oppressive policies and lawlessness.
This is a very serious time for us. We are on the cusp of a major breakthough, not only in our politics but in the culture of our society.
We have a chance to finally make progress in quelling a lot of the racial tensions and disharmony that have existed and was perpetuated by our former leaders.
I appealed to Destra as a fellow West Indian, as a fellow descendant of slaves that were brought here forcibly many many moons ago.
Don't sing Destra. Don't help them to keep us in bondage.
Not all money is good money. Usher, Beyonce, Lionel Richie and others who have performed in the past for one of Gadhafi's son are* now learning this lesson the hard way. Sometimes, one can learn from the mistakes of others. No need to make the same mistake, Destra. Take a moral stand…..
First, Michael is real! Second, It Mark not Michael Benchop! And third and most important: Destra's performance adds no VALUE TO MY COUNTRY!
Gerhard Ramsaroop is a senior executive member of the Alliance for Change;
John Navindra Williams does not exist – if you check item 10 on this page, you'll see his profile pic is fake: http://www.behappyinlife.com/inspiration/art_of_m…
It's Mark Anthony Benschop (not Michael Benschop) who spent 5 yrs in jail on a trump up charge of treason. U can also find his views on Destra's page. It is imperative that Destra take a moral stand. Not all money is good money. Usher, Beyonce, Lionel Richie and others who have performed in the past for one of Gadhafi's son is now learning this lesson the hard way. Destra action come Saturday will determine who remains a fan….