THE force of Nelson Mandela’s character, convictions, compassion and courage has been hailed as transforming the ideals of peace, forgiveness, non-violence and reconciliation into acts of heroism.But in Guyana, while in some quarters the resonance of these ideals continues to be tangibly felt, in others the balance on the scale has been measured and found wanting.

The lesson Guyana must be able to take with the passing on of such an incredible personality is centred on the concept of freedom; freedom, which according to him, means to “live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom” of others.
Such an expression of freedom must not only be expressed by the average Guyanese man, woman and child; but it is incumbent on our leaders to be seen contributing to this ideal, as it is the only way to shift the current paradigm that defines the status quo.
The status quo, more than any other factor, is characterised by division, once again seen in the pages of the media yesterday. While this representation by the media is discouraging,most troubling is the use of Mandela’s death as a point from which to advance the divisions.
The North American Region (NAR) of the Peoples’ National Congress Reform (PNCR) issued a release yesterday that said President Ramotar decided “to use a most dignified and sombre occasion to exhibit a divisive posture at a time the world is celebrating the life of a most magnanimous and unifying world leader. Guyanese at home and abroad woke up on Sunday morning to learn that “President Ramotar and his PPP/C friends secretly boarded a flight and headed off to South Africa.”
A valid point in this contention is that the Head of State went to South Africa without the company of any representation from the Opposition, as other Caribbean countries have done. However, his decision to represent Guyana as the world mourns the passing of Mandela was by no means a secret.
And while the NAR cast accusations of exhibiting division, precedence has been that the state has opened a book of condolence, yet A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has moved to open their own book of condolence – which notably has been signed mainly by individuals with links to Opposition factions.
It may seem to some a petty notation to point this out, but the fact remains that simple actions feed long-standing positions and cement division.
Mandela has famously been quoted as saying: “There are still some within our country who wrongly believe they can make a contribution to the cause of justice and peace by clinging to the shibboleths [dogmas] that have been proved to spell nothing but disaster.”
Guyanese demand change from our politicians and if they are to use the death of Nelson Mandela as any kind of platform, it cannot be anything other than for the promotion of the ideals he fought with blood and sweat for – anything else can only be described as gross disrespect for a man whose fight for change has impacted not only his country, South Africa, but will continue to influence peoples the world over.
As the old folks say: “Nuff time done, lil bit time left”.
If our politicians fail us, they may find themselves in a position where they witness the rise of a new breed of leaders who take on the famous charge of Madiba: “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom. Of course, the task will not be easy. But not to do this would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity now to rise up.”