THESE are President Barack Obama’s words to a devastated Haitian nation.
Guyana’s President, Bharrat Jagdeo, said that “The haunting images of bodies, injured persons, and ruined buildings struck a chord of compassion throughout our nation for the people of Haiti.”

In comparison with President Obama’s pledge of US$100 million, Guyana’s President’s initial and immediate pledge of US$1 million may seem small, but measured in scale, the hearts of both presidents measure compassion and caring for humanity with equity.

Today, as our nation agonizes in sympathy with impoverished Haiti, which has been struck a body blow that will take much goodwill from well-wishers across the world to recover from, we need to take cognisance that, apart from minor natural phenomena, such as floods and drought, ours is a disaster-free country.

Yet we complain about the most trivial of problems, instead of working together to find solutions. Haiti will certainly rise from this catastrophic tragedy, maybe to become a greater nation than before, although this may not seem possible at this given moment.

However, one should not underestimate the power of hope and the human spirit.

While tears and blood are flowing like rivulets in Haiti, the heart of the world is beating in tandem with sympathy, and it is this phenomenon that defines humanity.

This is the power of divinity, a power that crosses every religious divide, because it transcends borders to reach into the quintessence of human compassion.

Haiti is not alone. Dr. Cheddi Jagan has defined the world as ‘one global village’, and it is at times of tragedy that mankind meld into a common quantum that supersedes the baser instincts to rise as one combined force battling the forces unleashed by nature.

And while one may be questioning God as to the reason for such tragic incidents, periodically vested upon various communities within the global construct, maybe herein lies the answer – that we need to stop, think and act as a human race in cohesion, and maybe it takes great tragedy to catapult the diverse peoples of this world toward cohesive endeavours.

Haiti has been like an impoverished outcast, largely neglected by the international community. Today it is the focus of the world, and the President of the greatest nation in the world is promising the Haitian people “You will not be forgotten.”

But before tragedy struck it was a forgotten nation. Why should we wait until tragedy strikes before we extend a helping hand – to individuals, to communities, to countries?

However, that hand is being extended today – in compassion and with great beneficence. This should not stop here but should grab hold of this fallen nation and support it until it could stand on its own feet.
Guyana’s one million and the USA’s one hundred million is a start.