Dear Editor,
Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government or of an occupying international power, using no form of violence. It is one of the primary methods of non violent resistance. We must begin to face the reality of the tragedy Guyana has become. We must act in accordance to rebel against the destruction of a multi racial society, promulgated by a few that hold the reins of power. The time is now.
It is inexcusable for a government to bring a nation of seven hundred and fifty thousand people to their knees, but it is equally inexcusable for the opposition forces and civil society to not lift them back to their feet. Power is only effective to the greater good of all when it is balanced.
We can continue to complain, but if we fail to act, we must also take the blame. The opposition forces in Guyana have failed to offer real leadership to rein in the government and its excesses; day after day we sink into the abyss of racist policies, repression and poverty. Guyana continues to sink because the opposition forces have failed to act effectively.
We can continue to debate about the rights and wrongs of active and passive resistance. We do it at our own peril. We can continue to squeak about the disenfranchisement of Afro Guyanese or the empowerment of Indo Guyanese, we do a disservice to the cause when we fail to act to halt the wrongs. I can no longer blame the PPP. I refuse to seek change from those who have promised openly not to grant it. The change must come from the afflicted to free the afflicted. The opposition forces are like a valley of dry bones where nothing has risen. It is time to refocus the microscope. To this end, Messrs Corbin, Trotman, Ramjattan and other leaders of smaller political parties and organs must be held accountable and must face the same pressure and ridicule that the government is subjected to on a daily basis.
The trade union movement screams that it has been undermined by the present administration. GAWU has grown illustrious by the blessings of the present government, but what we see today is the stark realisation that the African-based trade unions have become like the opposition forces. Division is rife; to act is like a burden.
To mobilise its forces to serve the national good through active participation in street protest, civil disobedience and political action is non existent. We have reach the point where GAWU in its reluctance was pressured to lend a voice in support of an embattled sister union, which happens to be Afro Guyanese based.
The reaction is major news and GAWU is made to appear to be a knight in shining armour. We seek equality because it is really absent. We seek racial equality, that , too, is really absent. So our leaders on the opposition bench seek that equality through the face of Indians with an attempt to appeal to the Indian vote.
Trotman cannot stand as leader alone, Mr Ramjattan has to be his equal. They cannot even decide who is going to be the presidential candidate for fear that the Indian populace would react not in their best interest.
Weak and indecisive leadership will only confuse the masses. In the present circumstances the PPP, stands every chance of winning another term. Can the opposition forces dispute that, I pray they act now to prove us wrong.
Yours faithfully,
Norman Browne
