Dear Editor,
For the past forty years, Guyana has not moved past the very issues that plague it today: charges of racial discrimination, marginalisation, excesses in governmental powers, and lack of accountability, to list a few. However, the most significant issue that has bogged down Guyanese society for all its history is race. Race has infiltrated all aspects of our existence! At this juncture, critical reflection and surgical change in the fundamentals of our thinking are imperative. This is the only hope for this dear land and it lies in the hands of its people; you hold the instrument that can effect genuine change, development and empowerment.
Foremost, a culture of change is mandatory for the entire nation. This is by no means a novel idea; however, we need to constantly revisit our behaviour as individuals and as a nation to challenge and elevate ourselves. We are shackled by history and seem incapable or rather unconcerned about awakening from this slumber. We have to seize this moment; the time has come for bold visions and new ideas that are divorced from our past; the entire population has a role to play. A cultural renaissance that encompasses all aspects of our being and existence is called for!
Culture of acceptance: As a nation, we continue to struggle with the acceptance of each other and our shared space: Guyana. This is evident in the behavioural manifestations of our everyday actions. At some point, every citizen needs to examine this behaviour and challenge the thought process and the environment that foster such actions. As a first exercise, we could refrain from the use of the word “tolerance” as it relates to the different groups (groups here is by no means limited to racial, but is inclusive of minorities of the entire spectrum) that constitute the pluralistic society that we live in. We should then let this percolate into every aspect of our life. One can only hope that s/he is not tolerated but rather respected and accepted for their uniqueness and the contributions s/he can make to society. This should be our first collective goal; we should culture our minds to respond positively to people as individuals and not to the preconceived intellectual (?) notions that we have of a particular group. Teachers, you have a hot line to the custodians of our future; capture the imagination and passion of a generation and cultivate these minds to respect, embrace and accept the wonderful mosaic that they are fortunate to be part of.
Culture of accountability: I cannot overemphasise the importance of this enough: No one is bigger than Guyana! The people must shake off their apathy and become engaged and active citizens. This is the only way to keep our officials honest – we must demand no less. There needs to be born a nation of activists who can collectively demand a voice in shaping our destiny. Voting is not our only responsibility. The nation must ensure that its elected/selected/appointed representatives (government, opposition, independents, the judiciary, law enforcers, etc.) stand accountable for their performance and let them know that their actions/inactions will be addressed. However, we should also note that as individuals, we are responsible for our own actions and should take this responsibility seriously. We should hold ourselves to a higher standard in life! Imagine the possibilities!
Culture of civility: The ability to accept criticism and deal with the substantive issues instead of degenerating into demonization and demagoguery should be our lofty goal. Rather than addressing the subject being disagreed upon, most respondents resorted to maligning individuals. This was particularly so in relation to the numerous letters pertaining to the status and quality of the University of Guyana (where it was venomous), corporal punishment, operations of foreign companies in Guyana (this deteriorates daily), response to criticisms of the government, and deplorable condition of the city; the list can go on! Criticism should be constructive and those levelling it must refrain from degrading utterances. We should critically assess the subject and pursue potential areas of growth that may be generated from this appraisal. Civility should be the culture change that is required here and again, this should be made mandatory in our everyday dealings with each other. Those in authority should start by setting the standard for such a change in behaviour.
Culture of ownership: We should recognise that the public properties, infrastructure and institutions of this country belong to us, the citizens and should participate in ensuring that they are not exploited and destroyed. Simply put, everything that the government owns is ours; the garbage bins in Georgetown, the nice benches that grace some locations in the capital city, our school buildings, government buildings, roads, and yes, the environment; these are ours to care for and protect. A test case could be how well we preserve and maintain our new cricket stadium. We should inculcate values in those around us that demonstrate respect for what is ours and what we can leave for the future generations.
Culture of collective good: The resources (natural and other) of this country belong to the people and it is regrettable that in their utilization, the nation does not enjoy maximum benefits (gold, wildlife, and lumber, to name a few). This is not endemic to Guyana but is sadly characteristic to most developing countries. I recall being present at a conference in New York where the presenter (a Liberian refugee – an inspirational individual) was describing the differences between negotiating representatives of developing and industrialised nations. The latter, he notes, are usually represented by a battalion of Harvard and Ivy League educated individuals; I need not describe the disadvantages inherent in the limited number of individuals representing developing countries. This is by no means a fault of theirs (or an acceptance that great minds can only come from the Ivy League Ilk) but it is a sad indictment that we are ill-equipped to compete with these globally exposed brokers. As a result, we are always saddled with deals that fail to deliver benefits to the people (does this sound familiar?). Is it a wonder that the underdeveloped countries continue to wallow in this abyss? We need to attract the best and brightest minds that we have produced and persuade them to utilise their skills for our country’s benefit (a good example is the eminent personalities representing Guyana in our dispute with Suriname). We should celebrate, respect, embrace and entreat them to serve. In the interim, we must endeavour to provide our promising students with the opportunities to be mentored as global leaders. They need exposure!
Culture of bins: Yes, we should learn to use bins. The city is a nightmare to navigate, particularly when it rains; plastic here, there and everywhere; people eating and dropping boxes, polystyrene containers and plastic bags on the ground, in the trenches and in every conceivable place. Vendors leave cardboard boxes on the roads and pavements and stores do not make enough of an effort to ensure that the litter they generate are properly disposed of; this is the reality! This reflects badly on the populace in general. This may sound harsh and many may take offence but it is the truth and we must be able to address it with maturity.
This letter aims to serve as a catalyst to inspire individuals to become active and engaged citizens. I hope that people will be willing to challenge their boundaries and comfort zones and move beyond narrow visions and stereotypes. Finally, I sincerely hope that people will be challenged to become more civic-minded, demand more from themselves and be willing to stand up for what is right, just and honest. Start the change now. A nation will thank you!
Yours faithfully,
Kowlasar Misir
