Dear Editor,
Four times British Prime Minister William Gladstone said, “Show me the manner in which a nation or a community cares for its dead. I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender sympathies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land, and their loyalty to high ideals.” Had he seen Le Repentir Cemetery today, he would not have thought highly of Guyana.
The landscape of Le Repentir is overgrown and the ground waterlogged. It is a sight. It has no appearance of sanctity and relatives could scarcely find comfort visiting the tomb of a loved one. Sanctity of the dead is a basic principle. Burial sites have been revered by people throughout history and in many places are considered ‘consecrated’ or ‘venerated’ ground.
Guyanese no longer care for each other; it’s a world of survival of the strongest. There is a level of lawlessness that has reached epidemic levels and the irony is that even those who know better fall into bad practices. Dealing with epidemics requires drastic strategies.
The gap between the haves and the have-nots is increasing. Having money means having economic and political power, having access to better education and health care, being better housed and generally enjoying a better quality of life. Having less money, particularly a lot less, means less or no power, reliance on state-run education and health care, living in substandard housing and generally experiencing a diminished quality of life.
One observes overnight millionaires who are unafraid to flaunt their new wealth in the face of massive poverty and deprivation. Where their money came from is a matter for speculation. Some of the nouveau riche benefit from a comprehensive network of patronage. They erect massive structures and usually have a small business, the revenue from which could scarcely afford their exceedingly high standard of living. Yet they continue to prosper.
There are serious threats to public health from flooding and collapsing garbage collection services. So much is wrong.
Remarkably there is little anger and resentment as one might have expected; it is more resignation and sadness. Guyanese have always been described as resilient and innovative and it may be that ability to survive that has kept this country safe.
The fundamentals of governance include listening to and addressing the needs of the people, and the government must be committed to social equality and opportunity. However, if the government remains unsympathetic and the wealth chasm between rich and poor widens, there is likely to be violent reactions from those left behind.
The government must be reminded that democracy is much more than free elections.
Yours faithfully,
Dawn A Holder
