Kaieteur News Features Column on Living Well and Forgiveness

Kaieteur News reported on a piece titled "Mek friends nah enemies" published on November 12, 2026. The article posits that life is short and it is preferable to live well with the people in one's vicinity rather than engaging in conflict. It suggests that instead of causing trouble, individuals should enjoy each moment instead of worrying about someone they dislike.

The piece noted that some people create numerous enemies, sometimes as if they were on a production line, and that friends can occasionally turn into enemies. It also mentioned that some individuals manage to live without either friends or enemies, though the article suggested these people might end up lonely.

This idea was brought up by referencing a story about an elderly woman who attended church one Sunday and listened carefully to the pastor's sermon. Near the conclusion of the service, the pastor inquired of the congregation how many had forgiven their enemies, and approximately eight out of every person raised their hands.

The pastor observed that the old lady did not raise her hand, so he addressed her directly, asking if she was prepared to forgive her enemies. The old lady responded that she did not have any enemies.

The pastor found this unusual and asked her age. The old lady stated she was 96 years old. When the pastor suggested that she meant she had never had enemies throughout those years, he asked her to share how she managed to avoid having any. The old lady replied that she had outlived the people who were her enemies, adding a colloquial remark about friends falling out over trivial matters the next day.