Dear Editor,
The submissions made by the United Kingdom and United States to the UN Universal Periodic Review for Guyana about the discrimination and degeneracy in society are welcome. Encouraging though they are, the principle that God helps those who help themselves is still relevant and applicable today. It means as a people it is our primary responsibility to lead the charge in protecting our interests and bringing about the change we desire, seeking alliances in the process. Looking around Guyana it is easier to believe might is right and damn the law, that fundamental rights are to be grovelled for and not enshrined to be respected. Guyanese are being browbeaten to accept conditions and quality of life that in other countries would see mass protests and change in the political directorate. Those who boast of and have come to believe in ‘the return of democracy’ are doing the society a disservice by failing to acknowledge the global acceptance that democracy has four basic elements, namely: 1) a political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections; 2) the active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life; 3) protection of the human rights of all citizens; and 4) a rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens. These elements are not exclusive of each other. They work hand in hand.
“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent” (Dr Martin Luther King Jr). Our ancestors achieved that freedom years ago, we must now protect it. Most importantly we owe it to our children and families whose well-being and sustenance are at stake. We owe them a legacy that they can be proud of, one of freedom, rights and justice, one of brave and just struggle which they will emulate and protect. As they look around they see the absence of leadership, and that rights, the rule of law, free and fair elections and citizen participation are being discarded by society’s highest echelons. There is disrespect for universal democratic principles. The President and ministers took the oath to office, swearing to serve the people by upholding the constitution and law yet they continue to demonstrate their disregard for these. As citizens and payers of their salaries and benefits ours is the responsibility to hold them accountable.
An adherence to the political objective of this society as outlined in Article 13 of the Constitution should see all being involved in national decision-making, yet the government continues to disregard this important tenet. Its entrenching anti-democratic agenda has seen it ignoring elected leaders and imposing its will on the people. Areas not won are ignored and the residents relegated to second-class treatment. The voices of civil society usually allowed participation are those that go along with things as they are to the exclusion of those who want to achieve things as they should be.
Dr King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” With rights violated with impunity, conventions, declarations and the rule of law applied selectively we cannot continue with business as usual. The Rights commissions being made ineffective by the government’s refusal to establish the supporting secretariat and legislation are another denial of recourse to justice. Freedom of expression, a basic universal right in democracy sees the government doing its utmost to suppress it. This is evident in advertising withdrawal, restricting protests, withdrawal of state subventions, to name a few. These are all indicators of an anti-democratic culture. This is why those propagating the stifling/denial of the basic right to expression via protests should give serious consideration to their view. For anyone who accepts this denial, under any guise, is really cooperating with the oppressor; by extension s/he is equally guilty of the oppressive actions destroying the people and society.
The elephant in the room no one wants to talk about but remains the source of most of our conflicts and underdevelopment is racism, in as much as the constitution protects the rights to racial identity, equality, security and prosperity. Every democratic society has frontally dealt with this problem and continues to do so through anti-discrimination laws, inclusive public policies and public discourse. Guyana and Guyanese are no less deserving. We cannot continue to go down a path so far proven destructive and not conducive to justice, peace and stability since this does not serve our national interest. We deny ourselves opportunities to progress in our continued refusal to have frank and open discourse on race as a hindrance to development. As a people we can no longer be afraid to identify it, speak of it, and fight it wherever it exists. A lopsided discourse that finds comfort in discussing race when one specific group is perceived as the victim, and refuses to give voice in any attempt to identify, or discuss discriminatory practices and policies against another specific group is counter-productive.
To those affected by the government anti-democratic practices, “Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you’re a man, you take it” (Malcolm X). It is time for action, frank and open discussions as equals.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
