RESPONSES to my recent letters to the press indicate that readers and bloggers do not appear to understand where I am “coming from”. Like many Guyanese, I want to see Guyana move forward out of the ethnic mess that we find ourselves in . But I see a sad and tragic failure of leadership in this regard. Where are the opposition leaders who are “big” and mature enough to say to the government, “OK, the majority of Guyanese have voted you into office, but significant numbers of Guyanese have similarly demonstrated that they want us to represent them. Now, since we all tell the people that we want to move Guyana forward along the path of peace, equality, justice, and prosperity, how can we work in harmony to bring this about”?
Executed in a spirit of candid give and take in an atmosphere of common amity and the focused desire to put greatness of Guyana first, such an exercise will ensure Guyana’s swift elevation to greater economic status. It will also be the historic beginning of a new day in the history of Guyana.
I know I am asking a lot of some of Guyana’s political leaders: to rise above the limitations of their narrow definitions of patriotism; to forget their cherished goal of the acquisition of personal and political power to enhance their stature; to abandon score settling and embrace old rivals in the spirit of reconciliation and healing; to be committed servants of the people.
In short, I am challenging the political opposition leaders who have been tirelessly chanting their intent to govern Guyana in the interest of all Guyanese to, as we say in America, step up to the plate.
Engaging in political dogfights with the PPP/Civic administration and spouting endless diatribes justifying political militancy against the government have done nothing to move Guyana forward. It is time for a genuine, sincere, and fresh approach. Play ball!