Guyana is emerging, slowly but surely, out of the long years where we saw each other as “them” and “us,” and nowhere was this more evocative than the goodwill and genuine concern for each other’s welfare during times of national calamity, the floods of 2006/7 being a case in point.
Every day Guyanese look out for and interact with each other in one way or another with absolute trust and caring.
Touching, sincere actions, practically on a daily basis – recorded and unrecorded, testify to the irrefutable fact that we are indeed one people, one nation, with one destiny: and numerous are the incidents that have demonstrated the great heart of the true Guyanese, which is reminiscent of the days when we all looked out for each other with genuine caring and respect, which heralds a sublimating climate of reaching out to heal wounds, because there are wounds everywhere – some perceived from delusional premises on which the power-hungry had built their support, and others from a genuine sense of not belonging and of having no rights in this country.
No country in the world is without problems, and within the human condition there would always he human beings – black, brown, yellow, white, red, whatever, who would want to subvert the social systems in order to acquire wealth they have not earned, and power they do not deserve.  There would always be nepotism and corruption in and out of Government, because human beings are prone to human failings, and we need to be each other’s keepers, as in days of yore when it was the freed slaves who reported to the authorities on the inhumane treatment meted out to indentured labourers.
The “kith and kin” mentality should no longer prevail, because family members often hurt us more than outsiders – and many of us have forged deep and abiding bonds with “outsiders” than with those we share with our own, so we need to take a step back and question everyone who tells us that wrong is being done to us, and that they can do right for us, then question their track record before deciding if they qualify for our trust.
The Jagans and the PPP have always embraced anyone, irrespective of race, colour, or creed, who indicates a desire to join forces with them in nation-building endeavours and initiatives.  The PPP has traditionally worked among the grassroots people and most often they drew supporters into social services, community-enhancement, and national developmental projects that entail really hard work with little material or financial benefits, except that one gets the satisfaction that accompanies efforts to make life a little better for one’s fellow citizens, but Shirley Edwards, Cyril Belgrave and others of the older generation, as well as younger elements such as the new members of the PYO could testify that there is no discrimination within PPP ranks, although there may be disagreements between members, but it is never based on a racial quotient.
As former President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo once said, theirs is not a perfect Party, nor is theirs a perfect Government, because no such thing has ever existed, nor will ever exist, once the human element is a component within the unit.
However, one would expect that a responsible opposition or media corps would not just criticize, but would put their criticism within reasonable contexts, without trying to demonize persons who may be working really hard to find solutions and to enhance the capacities and service of their respective portfolios, and while mistakes may be made, maybe a respectful suggestion to an alternative approach would be constructive and open avenues for rapprochement and genuine attempts to find answers, because no-one is above making mistakes, and while we may disagree, respect for each other should be a paramount feature in our interactions and interrelation with each other.
One cannot want cooperation if there is a confrontational approach, because even criticism can be well-received if there is a genuine attempt at problem-resolution, without outlandish accusations being flung at persons with no concrete proof.  It de-motivates persons who may be blameless of the accusations and who may be genuinely working for the general good.  For instance, one cannot refute the fact that there have been corrupt practices in certain sectors, but if there is an accusation that there is discrimination within a certain sector, then statistics to prove this contention must be provided.  Also the perpetrators must be identified instead of a blanket condemnation of an entire sector.  If this is done then perceptions would most likely be changed.
Guyanese need to take charge of their collective destiny and the future of their children by being responsible citizens striving to reach common goals for the common good, because to continue expanding divisions within the nation would see us all sliding into a crevice leading straight to hell, when we can join forces to make a heaven.