Dear Editor,
One of your letter writers commented on the continual pessimism about Guyana. In the UK there is a closed season for shooting grouse and an open season, but it seems that it is always open season to criticise Guyana, and it has become the hobby of certain Guyanese to ‘badmouth’ the country. I think that it is disrespectful to the thousands of Guyanese who are quietly doing much for their country and for their fellow Guyanese. I meet wonderful people from all walks of life who care about their neighbours, who work hard to give employable skills to young people, and who help young people who have gone astray to find better ways to pursue their lives.
The trial in New York has elicited a frenzy of criticism. Yes, the justice system may be feeble but where is there a robust justice system? British justice used to be touted as the best in the world. No longer. At the present moment, several persons under the control order system are detained under house arrest where there is insufficient evidence to charge them, but where the security services regard them as dangerous. Would you call this justice?
One can hardly call the US system just when hundreds have been detained at Guantanamo Bay; one of them was a child and at the time of his kidnap – he was probably only ten or at the most twelve. The US has also indulged in extra rendition, where individuals are picked up by US planes and taken to countries where they could be tortured. These are only a couple of examples of the flaws in the US system.
I am not condoning any breach of justice in Guyana, but I am thoroughly fed up with the ceaseless litany implying that Guyana is the worst place in the world. What is this doing to our young people? The Leader of the Opposition is not unintelligent and he knows perfectly well that the UN does not deal with individual cases, and yet he speaks about going to the UN. In 1994 when the the Canadian, Dallaire, in charge of the UN peace forces in Rwanda, begged and pleaded for more help, he was ordered to withdraw from Rwanda. In four days eight hundred Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered and by the end of the massacre eight hundred thousand Rwandans were dead. Another example pertains to the ten metre high wall which separates Israel from Palestine. The Interntaional Court of Justice ruled that such a wall was illegal and yet Israel went ahead and constructed it on occupied Palestinian land and no country from the international community has done anything to support the court’s decision. I could give you many more examples but I hope that I have made the point.
It is dishonest for MPs to talk about appealing to international bodies. It is a sad fact that few countries are interested in the welfare of other countries, especially if they do not have oil!
The LCDS which is under consultation at the moment has been produced by many people and experts, and much time, effort, thought and energy have gone into it. It may have its flaws, but there is no doubt that it is a plan to help Guyana and all Guyanese. It may not succeed because it is dependent on the contributions rich countries will make and no country is altruistic. Rich countries will contribute only if they think that it serves their interests.
For several years now, there has been much work on climate change. It is heartening to see Guyana, which has less than a million people, making an effort to contribute to the welfare of the earth and trying to provide benefits to all Guyanese.
I think constructive criticism is always welcome but what is happening now is destructive criticism from many quarters and this is discouraging to the very many Guyanese who are working to help each other and succeed. I have come across some wonderful schemes which are dealing with some of the problems people encounter. I know of one group of men who meet and discuss among themselves, their fears, their needs, their wish to treat their wives well and to be supportive to their children. This is one way to avert domestic violence and much more helpful than the continual lament about such violence and the allocation of blame.
I would hope that all Guyanese, regardless of their political affiliation would be mature enough to want to see the LCDS succeed, and if by chance this should happen, they would be prepared to work for it to succeed.
I cannot help think that the pessimistic litany which appears daily in our newspapers is not helping anyone and I hope that you will find a place in your paper to report on and support the excellent efforts being made by Guyanese who are committed to the common good.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address
provided)
