Dear Editor,
Today, I put myself in the shoes of those who urge others to see and accept a Guyana of which I know not.
Never did, not once. Yet, it is how some desire it to be seen; it could be a case of beauty in the eyes of the beholder, or it could be a caricature of reality.
There is a president at the apex; he is statesmanlike, a consensus seeker, an in-gatherer. He is adored across the board, and is dedicated to a thoroughly inclusive society. This president stands in front of a group of men and women of irreducible integrity; they are all committed to listening and serving the people in impeccable perfection. They are untouched by conflicts of interest, outside interests, or divided interest.
They serve as an inspiration and warning to any of the unelected, who might be tempted by either venality of spirit or mendacity of character.
Here is a group of men and women who stand resolute and proud in an exemplary pantheon devoted to improving the lot of country and citizens.
The people come first, and the masters are truly servants.
The citizens of this Guyana are a contented bunch. They trust their governors; they believe that they are treated fairly. They have a voice, and they can demand and receive answers. Further, they have found that they can lobby for, and influence change on issues deemed beneficial to the nation’s interest. These same citizens are comfortable with their security blanket, and delight in the optics of progressive activity all around.
It is a sign of a nation on the move, with every available hand on deck in constructive engagement and honest labour.
A decent wage is earned in this bewitching place, and enables an admirable living standard, while coexisting unstressed alongside fellow citizens.
From this picture, it becomes obvious that the dear land of Guyana is the place to be; a placid mainland by the equator with only a few clouds on the horizon. And those clouds are fleecy and transient, and of minimal import.
Not for a moment, can these clouds obscure that this is a first-rate democracy, with a visible and pulsating opposition; one that is a major contributor to affairs of the day and state. Also, take notice of an established fourth estate; a public trust of heroic proportions; one that is unfettered and unthreatened. Additionally, it is a bastion of justice, where all are equal at the bar; where no one is larger than the law itself; and where agents of the law and officers of the court are beyond reproach.
This is Guyana – the envy of its neighbours, and the talk of free men, wherever they gather. It is a place where people stay, raise their children, love their neighbour, and respect their government. Citizens experience only exhilaration in their daily walk along pathways of excellence.
This is the production delivered, that is desired to be seen and to be believed with heartfelt fervour. It is where the people are kings, rule through their leaders, and control their own destinies. Call me blind and deaf, even dumb, but after living in the same place, I have come to see and hear and feel an altogether different place.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall