A YOUNG boy of one ethnic persuasion recently braved raging flames to save a neighbour of another ethnic persuasion, at the risk of his own life. And the race of neither is deliberately not mentioned herein, because there are a plethora of incidents – minor and major, down the corridors of our history, where these are common occurrences between Guyanese of all ethnic persuasions.
There are simple and major occurrences in our daily existences of persons helping others, without the race factor being a quotient with our people, who as a norm demonstrate the great heart of the true Guyanese, which is reminiscent of that period in our history 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 in society there would always be 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. 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” – regardless of race or religion, 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, they do not promise wealth, because they possessed none themselves, and most often they draw 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 could testify that there is no discrimination within PPP ranks, although there may be disagreements between members, but it is never based on race.
As Former President Jagdeo once said, there is not a perfect party nor is there a perfect government, because no such thing has ever existed, nor will ever exist, once the human element is a component within the unit.
But one would expect that a responsible opposition or media corps would not just criticise, 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 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 of our country.
Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar and his government have expressed willingness to engage stakeholders in the country, as indeed all PPP/C governments had done, in the formulation of plans and programmes to take the nation forward in a holistic approach to problem resolution and national development, but the power-hungry opportunists are fighting against this, because it does not suit their selfish, nefarious agendas, and one wonders why a few despotic pretenders, whose personal lives cannot bear public scrutiny, are allowed to hold the entire nation to ransom.
It is time the nation’s stakeholders take cognizance and began to make demands of their own for inclusionary interventions in the nation’s affairs, instead of allowing themselves to be sidelined to facilitate the destructive and self-serving agendas of a ruthless and unpatriotic few. The government wants them in, because no responsible administration would want to by-pass primary institutions and organisations that have a major stake in the social development and economic growth of their country.
Guyana is emerging, slowly but surely, out of the recent years where we saw each other as “them” and “us.” This is a process that our nation should not allow. Opportunistic politicians should not be made to derail this process. As our revered national poet Martin Carter said: “All are all involved, all would be consumed”.