Dear Editor,
THE writing is on the wall that the contempt with which the Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar regimes have conducted the people’s business, and the disdain they demonstrated in interacting with the workers/citizenry, will not again be tolerated from any other regime.

Today, Guyanese are demanding that their rights be upheld, public officials operate within the parameters of the laws, and the people should be treated with due respect. This is a level of awareness and civic responsibility prevalent in progressive societies, and moreso in a democracy that is structured on people’s representation.

Guyana has a representative system of governance, and the people’s desire for progress is a complementary factor that ought to be encouraged.

It should be said that, notwithstanding the major shortcomings and roguishness of the Jagdeo and Ramotar governments, the basic etiquette of acknowledging letters and returning telephone calls was practised. This is a practice that ought not be discarded by the APNU+AFC government, but should be embraced and strengthened.

There was a period in our history, not so long ago, when civility by and among the political leadership, elected leaders and senior government officials was seen as a matter of necessity and public engagement. It is also not untrue to say that, in that era of leadership, there was an aura of confidence in self and conviction of belief that propelled actions to engage citizens to win their hearts. The majority among that group, even when in disagreement, addressed each other with civility and without a diet of overt crudity and name-calling. Maxims like ‘do unto others as you would like them to do unto you’ and ‘manners maketh man’ held sway.

Instructively, the principal political objective of the state did not have ensconced “inclusionary democracy” in the management and decision-making process of state regarding matters that impact a group’s interest, as presently exists in Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution; yet, during the leadership of Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan, the record shows these leaders brought to their political craft a level of civility that forged engagement with stakeholders regardless of political and policy differences.

For instance, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), a major stakeholder, though this body held different positions on several issues with each government, the then pervasive practice of civil engagement led to agreement on issues or agreed positions to disagree. And in respect for the principle of civility and responsibility to the public and stakeholders, Burnham, Hoyte, the Jagans, their Minister of Labour or shadow minister picked up the telephone and personally engaged the trade union leadership. The same can be said of Jagan, Hoyte and Robert Corbin during their leadership in the Opposition.

I can recall Carl Greenidge, as Minister of Finance, even before he made the pronouncement on the devaluation of the Guyana dollar, met with the President and General Secretary of the GTUC before entering Parliament. This was a period when issues that had direct bearing and impact on Labour, the movement would have been informed and engaged before it became public. Today, this nation has deviated from these time-honoured principles. This deviation began under the Jagdeo leadership, and continues unabated. In many instances, Labour was informed only through the grapevine or the media.

From these sources, we are hearing about a Green Economy; an economy whose success is reliant on an informed and educated labour force; an economy that has to conform to the ILO Decent Work Agenda in a society where the constitution enshrines the trade union’s involvement in production, productivity, and economic development (Articles 38 and 149C); yet, there has been no engagement with Labour.

Outside of civility, constitutional and international pillars to realising a Green Economy are being cast aside.
Consequently, the desire to have rank and file workers trained in courtesy and good customer service — since it is viewed as important to making Guyana an attractive tourist destination – should also encompass the upper echelons.

As one walks the streets, there are numerous complaints about ministers’ attitudes, refusal to reply to letters or return telephone calls. These complaints are not unconvincing when the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has also been the recipient of this incivility. In one instance, as the GTUC General Secretary, I had reason to call a minister’s office. I left a message. Eleven days later, the minister’s secretary called me to find out if I still wanted to speak with him.

The GTUC has also written letters to members of the Cabinet, and has not been accorded the courtesy of an acknowledgement, much less engagement.

Public officials are paid from the public purse. Elected officials offer themselves for leadership, and both are accountable to the people and must treat the people with civility and respect.

Civility in public life requires a level of maturity in thinking and behaviour; and since this is absent in today’s engagement, everything is seen within the context of addressing individuality and personality, rather than addressing the issue by first asking: “is it right what is being said”, or “how can I use the criticism to improve my performance?”

There must be growth in public interaction, and the posture of citizens to hold officials accountable must continue as we together seek to build a society better than the one we inherited.

Yours sincerely,
Lincoln Lewis