I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the totality of the situation in Guyana will not improve until and unless the Guyanese population becomes honest with itself and admits that we have a catastrophic racial divide which is the real cause of the majority of our national problems. This writer recognises that there is significant enmity, bitterness, and distrust on both sides of our Indian-African Guyanese cleavage. I am also practical enough to know that these mutual negative attitudes will not disappear overnight. However, when we recognise the cause of a problem, this really means that we have arrived at 90% of the solution.

So, once the Guyanese people have honestly faced themselves and acknowledged the root cause of the present state of our nation, we will be ready to see clearly what we have to do remedy the situation. Guyanese need to understand that the external state of our country is an accurate reflection and direct physical manifestation of the internal consciousness state and level of our collective population. In short, the external manifestations in our lives are the direct physical results of our inner states of mind. It should, therefore, be very clear that to change external national conditions. We have to change the internal national state of our collective minds.

Now is the time for Guyana’s spiritual leaders to come to the fore and boldly provide the required leadership. Please note, I said “spiritual leaders” not “religious leaders”. One Sufi Master said, “Religion kills spirituality”. I know that there spiritual leaders in Guyana who know exactly what I am speaking about. It is time for them to stand up and be counted. It is time for them to provide the leadership that they have been prepared to give. Political leadership cannot do the job for which they have been uniquely prepared. Political leadership would provide laws aimed at encouraging certain modes of conduct and behaviour, but we cannot legislate love, peace, reconciliation, and harmony. These are in the arena of internal spiritual states. In short, these fall in the province of the spiritual leader. Hence my urgent call for our spiritual leaders to come forward and fulfill their mission.

Guyana will not move forward until our people move to the higher states of internal consciousness. And our Guyanese spiritual giants must step forward now and lead the way. They know who they are. This letter is their cue.
JAMAL ALI
Jamaica, New York
USA