Dear Editor,
There is a thin red line between the burdens of being in the government as against those burdens faced by opposition forces because governing this country is not an easy task, even in the best of circumstances, and therefore, we all have to work together, in facing new challenges. Ask President Jagdeo and he will verify that the problems of housing alone are headaches and the political pressures from inside the PPP (not to mention the opposition and the complaints of regular folks) probably are enough to drive a leader into a mental meltdown. Add all the other problems a political leader faces: budget management, cabinet management, unemployment, inflation, health and education etc, and one wonders why a politician would want to take on all these burdens.
People criticize President Jagdeo for a lot of things and I count myself as one of those, especially since I have no intention of curtailing my criticism of his administration, when necessary. For example, his low threshold of tolerance for our free press and TV media; his lack of sensitivity to the Opposition; his lack of vision in increasing foreign investment and trade; his micro-management style; his placement of “square pegs in round holes”; his use of extra-parliamentary means to force his will and other numerous fulminations. No matter who is in power, there will always be those who will find fault in policies and practices. Look at President Obama’s latest polls which show growing criticism even though the situation facing him is really complicated and not easily solved. In Guyana, President Jagdeo has faced problems which could overcome anyone who might be leader of this nation.
But what about us and not him; what about our culture undermined by disorder, chaos and disregard for our brethren. Just look at some of our mini-bus drivers and their frequent disasters which racing-car drivers at professional tracks don’t have. Just look at grown men urinating in public, in front of our wives and children, passing a message of brutishness to our society. Just look at the private sector where some businesses have little regard for customers while breaking laws, regulations and statutes and racking up huge profits but not paying back to society their “fair share”. Just look at the racialism living inside of us, even though we live together and breathe the same air, share the same water and enjoy God’s good graces; we would barely accept that in reality. He placed the racial issue before us to test our resolve, courage and resourcefulness to reject such a Satanic concept. Just look at our newspapers, some of which, only try to pull down and tear apart instead of giving the truth and propagating the real facts and figures; some of them pandering to the public with sensationalism and irresponsible reporting with columnists tearing everyone apart and causing confusion. Just look at the multitude of so-called preachers, milking the regular folks for the little that’s left over from meagre paychecks, promising deliverance and heaven around the corner, while sowing confusion and false hopes. Just look at those among our population who don’t even understand the work ethic and just wait for a hand-out from abroad; able-bodied persons who rather beg than find a job; drugged out persons who rather steal than work; criminals who kill even though it’s not necessary. Just look at the opposition parties, disunited in a common purpose for “shared governance” and unable to contribute to a united effort to help our people find new ways to advance their lives; unable to sway this government in its determination to maintain majority rule, which, as Mahatma Gandhi said, is vile and unholy and never works.
So, Editor, as Mr. Jagdeo has the next two years to leave his mark, since the PPP hierarchy has made it clear that there will be no third term for him (PPP supporters had no say), let us try to give him the benefit of the doubt, the leeway to manipulate needed changes and the respect his office demands; while we, the people, can “look in the mirror” and see our own intrinsic weaknesses and not just that of our President and his administration. Editor, a nation cannot face the world in a state of disunity and division, with constant bickering and vitriolic disagreements; instead, we, as a nation have to come to grips with the racial, class and religious differences which exist in our country and which have made us weaker; in fact, these differences should have made us stronger through diversity, common heritage (Guyanism) and one love for all.
Mr. Jagdeo has taken up the challenge of leadership, even though a young man, and has accomplished enough for all of us to appreciate a “decent innings’ and as the curtain falls on his stewardship of this nation, I, who have been a constant and vocal critic of his administration, would like to publicly thank the President of Guyana for trying to place Guyana in world focus; for trying to move party paramountcy out of government service; and for the inroads he has made in fixing our broken-down infrastructure, even though more could have been done with the time and money at hand. Hopefully, in the next two years of his Presidency, Mr.Jagdeo will tend to his nation, not as a PPP politician, but as a statesman dedicated to leaving a legacy of care to the most destitute of our people; to the old and infirm and to our youth who have the future in the palms of their hands; and to the concept that the years of struggle and sacrifice by our forefathers was not in vain.
God bless our President, and may he continue, after his term is over, to contribute to the betterment of our dear country through the experience and knowledge he has accumulated.
Yours faithfully,
Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.)
