SOME years back I was in Dominica, in company of then High Commissioner of India, Dr. Prakash Vinayak Joshi, and a group of the Indian High Commission for an Indian show and dinner.  I met the prime minister, the president and past ones and many ministers of the Dominican government, past and present.  It was a wonder trip and I was Master of Ceremonies for all the events.

The point is not to pat myself on the back or popularise the Indian culture.  It has to do with the caption of this letter to the media for the public of this country, and a heart-aching warning which came from a powerful minister I met in Dominica.  I wish to ask the political powers of the land: the government, the opposition, and all political parties (even the political miscreants who can only make trouble for any government in power. I mean the likes of Mark Benschop, Freddie Kissoon and the one or two others, for whom nothing is ever good, never a pleasant horizon, never a good word, and all of whom can never win a fraction of one seat in parliament), to please read carefully, and digest this message, and sleep with it as they paint the simple message from this minister when I solicited a commentary from him and a message to Guyanese.

I cannot remember his name at this time, but his photo is with me and his message was published in the press on our return to Guyana.  He was at that time the Hon. Minister of Culture of Dominica.  He lived in Guyana for a while studying at various institutions, including, the then Cuffy Ideological Institute up the Linden Highway.  Hence, the man knows our country, our peoples, our troubles and the possibility of great destruction, being a member of the intelligentsia and as one who cares and feels for our Guyana , while a citizen of his own country and an honoured minister of that country.

What were the few words of that sentence that moved me and was painted in my heart for all time? Simply this, when I asked him for a message to Guyana and Guyanese:  “Unite or Die!  Tell your government, your opposition and the people of your country…..Unite or Die.”

These simple words have far-reaching dimensions and consist of a serious message to us as a people, from a man who understood and understands the reality of our political and cultural infrastructure.  He knows of our pains, and political distrust, political ambitions, and the extent to which politicians would use their people and even create strife to stay in power or create disharmony amongst our peoples so they may win an election.  It seems the aim is not to cooperate and build a wondrous and exemplary society, but when in opposition to do all one can to break the country; to prevent development; to sabotage opportunities for our country’s development to create wealth for our people; to scare away investors by bad-mouthing Guyana in any forum; or cause people to sabotage the economy and even in some cases to protest, and use sentiments which people may even misunderstand, and use them to break the country., turn to violence!

There are some elements whose name I have mentioned above, who are definite miscreants, who have no following, who can never win a seat, but who will object, and annoy any government, and do things to bring down every government, for that is how they survive.  We see one looking at 2013 as the year of bad luck, as if he  definitely knows he will become a martyr this year, as he was not ‘martyrred’ before.  Is this man mad, wishing death, as can be seen from his writings? When he has a great boon of a lady of great blood-line, religion, humanity and brilliance as wife and beautiful and educated daughter?  All he does is call death, and with it wishes he could bring down the government, and mash this country up, hoping that criminals will follow him to break this country, so he and his colleagues, fellow miscreants, can achieve some power, as that is the only way they can get some.

Then it is the government of the day.  They have a responsibility to listen to their people, all their peoples, as government, they represent all the peoples of this country.  They do quite a lot, but they have an enormous responsibility to unite with the opposition, and opposition with authority, the votes, to build trust, faith, harmony, and utilise wisdom.  They do not trust the opposition, and how can they when some in the opposition wish to dictate how the government should function; whom it should have as ministers and who not, and merely to dismiss one because they say so, even if no shred of evidence has been shown that the minister did nothing wrong or issued an order to shoot people.

The government and opposition do not trust each other.  They need to break that wall, of distrust, they need to show good faith, and function not as power-brokers or power-seekers, not as unequal, but as equals in the destiny of this country.

Political subterfuge must end or we shall die. Guyana shall stagnate, we will move 10 steps forward and drop back 15.  Our country will continue to be mocked and our peoples looked down upon as we travel.  We have to change this cycle.  Our politicians have to make it possible to talk in friendship and trust, to build trust.  The government must feel that in an inclusive government, the opposition members in power of ministerial posts will sabotage it or try to break it, and the opposition in the government must never try to break the government for total, perpetual power.  Power must be the people.  This is the unity I think the Hon Minister of Dominica was talking about.

Look at how two politicians and legal minds gave an ultimatum to the government, which rightfully did not buckle to fire its minister, and the mayhem they caused, to make the country ungovernable, caused women to be molested, at the area of the onslaught and at the wharf where they tried to cross the river, I know, my female staff suffered attacks but wish to protect their names.  How can two opposing members of parliament expect to dictate to a government?

We have to mature as a people, as political peoples, and Guyanese.  Our politicians need to unite, and then unite the people.  Is it impossible?  I say no, it is not.  We just have to muster the will.

I recall once when Mr. Corbin, former Opposition Leader said:  “Let us have a Truth and Reconciliation Committee as they had in South Africa for the cause of unity.”  He was serious, but no one listened to him.  He was a politician, a politician who became a mature political leader, who never tried to break this country when in opposition.  The Government of Guyana and the people of Guyana should take note, and if never awarded a Medal of Honour, Corbin should be conferred one. Today I hear President Donald Ramotar saying words that are calling for respect and cooperation.  Mr. Granger needs to speak these words also.  He is a very likeable person but he needs to speak the words of unity often enough that the people can hear it.

Hey! Let’s go for it.  Just respect our country, our peoples and each other. We can start from there.