By Lincoln Lewis

THE 2020 elections have once again brought to the fore that fear exists within, between and amongst us that a government could be elected that does not care about us. The fear is legitimate; it is premised on the fear of denial of opportunity to equally participate in the decision-making processes at all levels. What Guyana is fighting for is a national standard that operates, regardless of which group/party is in and out of power.

We seek inclusion in our political processes, not only at election but day-to-day, from the Executive right down to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, the grassroots. It is the fear of being excluded that often inhibits honest examination of our political system to ascertain what mechanisms could be put in place to conquer that fear. Our quest is made more challenging by forces, local and international, who have found ways to satisfy their self-interest by preying on our fears.

For instance, oppression and suppression still exist in the 244-year old United States. Fifty-four years into their independence, one race was being enslaved, another brutally thrown off their lands, conflicts among the ‘civilised’ were resolved through the barrel of a gun, or at the end of a spear. Comparatively, 54-year-old Guyana is not operating at that level, yet some are expressing intolerance with us seeking resolution to our concerns and grievances in a civil manner, utilising non-violent means. They consider our recourse to the court as frivolous; they take sides in a stampede, and applaud the stampeders. They express impatience at our pace in resolving differences. You listen to them, not knowing world history, it would be hard to believe that they walked this path, and their journey was more rugged than ours.

Instead of attacking us and sowing seeds of discord, had they respected our right to sovereignty, our fledgling democracy and quest for peace, within and out of Guyana, they could have helped us to navigate the process by supporting the use of our laws, not interfering because they have a horse in the race. We don’t want that in Guyana. In these more developed societies, they change the law depending on who is in power, representing what has become the norm in their societies. For instance, the incumbent Republican administration continues to seek ways to remove LGBQT rights put in place by a Democratic administration. Last week, the U.S Supreme Court handed down the decision that the “1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination ‘because of sex’, extends to people who face job bias arising from their sexual orientation or gender identity” (CNN Online news).

Guyanese do not want to be subjected to the whims and fancies of political leaders; we want a reality where all the people will be secured under the law all the time. Again, as is happening in the U.S., we do not want voting rights to be eroded under one administration and restored under another. Neither do we want any group to be the primary beneficiary of the nation’s resources at the expense of others.

We desire equitable opportunities for employment of persons, irrespective of political association, race or other factors they have no control over, and regardless of who is in office. We have been demanding for the past 54 years, as an independent nation, a national standard and consensus in the management of the State and the treatment of fellow citizens. Where the Constitution vests sovereignty in the people, we want to see this expressed and manifested in all our endeavours. Our diversity is a strength, not a weakness. There ought to be nothing to fear from each other, should we accept that we are all equal, and should be treated with dignity and respect. These are enshrined in our laws, international conventions, United Nations Declarations, and universally-acceptable principles.

We owe it to ourselves to get up, stand up, fight for what we believe in, and what has been our pursuit these past decades; decades built on centuries of struggle for human dignity, and borne out of the understanding that our existence and development are intertwined; not exclusive. In pursuit of this, we must be able to hold our leaders accountable, national and political. Holding them to account is not being disloyal to the party or government; it is recognising the party or government has a problem that bothers one or some, and needs to be addressed. Any concern should be addressed, and one should feel free, not fearful, to speak out. When we nurture an environment where freedom of speech and its inherent right to dissent is respected, and not suppressed, where dignity is treated as a right not privilege, where the laws work for all not some, where legal redress is not deemed a right for some, not all, where we produce and strengthen legislation that secure our individual and collective rights, and when we allow the institutions of State to work for all, we can conquer the legitimate fears.