ON March 2003 at approximately 3:00 pm, my phone rang. I proceeded to answer this call which transformed my everyday existence. The execution of 17-year-old University of Guyana Student, Yohance Douglas, was unfortunately communicated to me and in my capacity as the Vice President of the University of Guyana Student Society, I was hastily called to action. Initially, this news brought pain but as the reality sunk in and the shock subsided, I began to reflect on this opportunity to highlight the plague of extrajudicial killings which appeared to be a tacit policy of the then PPP/C administration. I thought this was the opportune time for a massive uprising, nay, a quasi-revolution and, being a student of history, I conjured images of a beautiful struggle that would have resulted in the fall of a regime.

Sadly, it took just a few days for this naivety to be shattered and dashed. The Guyanese character, as it relates to sustained resistance, quickly emerged and killed my fervour. After just a few days of protest, the crowds dwindled, University of Guyana lecturers continued business as usual and refused to join the peaceful protests, students looked after their self-interest and the general society went about their usual business. The struggle was left with a few political opportunists and was dangerously being pushed into another partisan political squabble between the big parties. In the end, justice was not realized in this case.
One of the indispensable aspects of democracy is the fear of consequences of public actions by politicians or those who possess authority; if this is absent, the masses will be exposed to all kinds of abuses. The clearest sign that the people are serious about an issue and something must be done to rectify the situation, is sustained peaceful resistance. This should not be evident only in the early days of the struggle, it must be over a period of time. A society that cannot produce this in times of genuine and legitimate causes that ought to evoke public outrage, is a paradise for those who possess authority with dishonorable intentions.