Dear editor,

GUYANA’S fine son of the soil, the distinguished and brilliant Attorney General and Minister Of Legal Affairs, the honourable Mr. Anil Nandlall, gave a splendid performance last Wednesday night when he highlighted some of Mahatma Gandhi’s works and life, during a virtual programme sponsored and organised by the New York Hindu of Federation Mandirs, headed by Pt. Ram Hardwar who is also priest-in-charge and spiritual adviser at the Shri Surya Narayan Mandir in Jamaica.  His short but comprehensive presentation covered the history and philosophy of Gandhi’s teachings, its perfection and relevance then and now and the valuable application in resolving many of today’s violent global issues and political and economic upheavals. Quite impressive also, was the sterling contributions from many of the youths from various mandirs from the popular Queen’s neighbourhood. Noteworthy also, was the young and rising star, the stalwart Pt.  Ayush Sharma from Guyana, son of Pt. Rudra Sharma, whose timely interjection of Gandhi’s attributes, coincide with Mr. Nandlall’s speech which also highlighted Gandhi’s peaceful and persistent battle with the might of the British Empire, to almost single-handly defeat them to gain independence for India. The Attorney General also informed all that this accomplishment caused a domino effect to arouse all the other colonies under British rulership, including then British Guiana, to commence the fight for freedom.
The universality of Gandhi’s message is meant for an everlasting posterity. The unique combination of truth and non-violence is dynamic in its relevance to today’s application in worldly affairs. All leaders throughout the globe should embrace his policy of “SatyaGraha,” i.e., the perpetual insistence to “hold on to truth,” allowing that premise to carve a foundation that can guide them eternally to make the right decisions, whenever challenged with any minor or major problems. No wonder all civil rights leaders refer to Gandhi’s teachings for his practical principles, including Cheddi Jagan, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and James Bevel. His influence bears testimony to the making of Barrack Obama, Kofi Annan and Mother Theresa. From a simple man, his thoughts and ideas transgressed to divine teachings, all of which are philosophically inclined from the theological studies of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and other related factions. His concept of peace is adumbrated by the United Nations and the creation of “International Peace Day” signifies the respect and pertinence of this potent lesson to help shape mankind’s destiny. It is worthwhile to note the paramount importance that the Hindu Scriptural Text, the “Gita,” played in molding his awareness and awakening. Gandhi was often quoted as saying that, whenever he was confronted by any issue and uncertainty hovers above him, he would lovingly turn to the golden pages of the Gita to look for the answer and, that book never failed him in finding the correct and perfect mode of required action.

Today’s society is plagued by deceit and dishonesty to paint a picture of falsity, augmented with mendaciousness and crookedness to indent a portrait of pretence. It is sad to note that so many national and international figureheads are failing in their rightful duties to uphold the integrity that is demanded for such prestigious positions. In Guyana, from 2015 to 2020, the thwarting of lies by PNCR tongue-twisters fooled many Guyanese. Their    political agenda for personal satisfaction insinuated massive destruction and created mayhem with violence. Their financial greed corrupted the flow of rules and regulations. Law and order decayed during their governance and the valour in honour declined. Part of the judiciary system became confused with loyalty and legality. As a result, economic development was held in abeyance, legitimacy was compromised with corruption, the making of a nation was replaced by the raping of the Treasury, progress was substituted by poverty and happiness was converted to suffering. Guyanese should ponder the immediate massive salary increments for parliamentarians, the secret signing of agreements, the disasters from the passing of the No Confidence Motion (NCM), the expensive and fruitless court cases, the illegitimate appointment of James Patterson as Chairman to GECOM, the dictatorship by bullies, the splurging of unnecessary expenses, the perks from expensive and exuberant over-budgeted transactions, the long drawn-out election process, the election rigging and fraud, the internal manipulation of GECOM, APNU+AFC’s high-handed attitude and hooliganism, their vulgar and shameful display with the diplomatic representatives, the scant respect for all election observers, their control of the law, their vindictiveness in discrimination and prejudiced permeation, the unilateral treatment for one favoured ethnic preference over the partial priority with other ethnic inequality, the dangerous propaganda spread via the controlled national news media, radio stations, TV, newspapers and internet, PPP/C transparent revelations for APNU+AFC’s gross unaccountability and their monstrous undermining of democracy in totality, throughout the national environment.

Guyanese and international players are not in the least surprised by the outcome of APNU+AFC losing the national and regional elections. The making was so obvious from the results of the last two local elections and the PPP/C’s reign of supremacy and the announcement of PNCR and AFC’s demise. The world reflects on the unnecessary and reckless protests and demonstrations orchestrated by APNU+AFC, especially with a direct and callous exposure to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. There were irresponsible parades in front of Parliament, the ACCC, the courts, GECOM and the streets. Lack of prevention, treatment and control of this virus plummeted to a disorganised level, creating chaos and confusion from its inception and as a consequence, the uncontrolled spread of this disease by the uncaring task masters. The APNU+AFC’s lack of foresight in a wide and variable spectrum is the root cause for the PPP/C working overnight and at a disadvantage to clear the backlog of performance in hindsight. Yet, there are many Guyanese who, blinded, will follow the ill advice of the APNU+AFC leaders who are bent on conducting mischief and mayhem, to disrupt the peace of this nation and allow violence to rule the order of the day. Perhaps, the Attorney General should indoctrinate parliamentarians with the rudiments of Gandhi’s teachings, so that there will be more King Jr, Mandela and Obama in the making. To quote Gandhi, “An education which does not teach us to discriminate between good and bad, to assimilate the one and eschew the other, is a misnomer.”  Who is prepared to give up the sword for the pen?

Respectfully,
Jai Lall