Dear Editor,
Many new governments commence governing with timidity and then over the years they become emboldened and completely forget their humble beginnings. That first day in office, when they were overwhelmed with the magnitude of the position and responsibility they found themselves in become distant. If only we the people could have kept them humble and appreciative of their achievements and the gift of governing that has been thrust upon them. If only we could have sent a constant reminder that the first days in office they were seen as altruistic and well meaning.
The above can be applied to many governments, including the current Government of Guyana − a government that gloats over the killing of criminals, wrongly thinking that such a public display will serve as a deterrent to future criminals. A government that is unsophisticated in its disdain for many who oppose them. A government that refuses to investigate allegations about the misdeeds of any of its officials. A government that is content to arrest and imprison dissidents, only to release them when it is presumed that they have learnt a lesson. A government that feels so entrenched in its feathered position, that it is oozing with confidence that it will not be replaced.
Today in Guyana we see the frustration with this government surfacing in comments that it may be best if a section of Guyana secede from the rest of the country. No thought is given to our forefathers who slaved, protested and died to preserve the freedoms the secessionists now enjoy. No thought is also given to those whose families have lived there for generations and are against seceding. Many in Guyana feel that the current government is inept and lacks the foresight to effectively spur development, but instead of criticizing the government, some are content to seek separation from Guyana. As the population and the economic and social pressure grows, migration has served as a release easing the deteriorating social conditions manifested in an increasing crime rate that has now become the norm.
Guyana endured twenty-eight years of the PNC without any sustainable and significant development. The waste of those years has caused a cascade of criticism from many sectors and persons. Now, quietly the PPP is approaching two decades of governing with nothing to show, other than the Skeldon sugar factory, an entity which will contribute very little to the development of the nation.
Many have grown old awaiting some form of development, but since independence those very people have known nothing other than quasi-dictatorships that have made overt promises that could never be kept, because the operatives in government change their positions not long after taking office. So instead of seeking solutions, and criticizing the government even when we lend support, we now give thought to embarking on a secessionist expedition that will eventually lead to mayhem and destruction.
Yours faithfully,
Patrick Barker
