Dear Editor,
Having just returned from the People’s Republic of China, where I witnessed a deepening cultural sensitivity, human dignity coupled with unprecedented social and economic progress, I am saddened by the behaviour of sections of our population, worsened by the near silence and inaction by our leaders of state and civil society.
We need to pay attention to the obvious moral decline evident in Guyana today. The examples are many, but the acid attack on Prettipaul Jaigobin and the crassness of the assault on Freddie Kissoon are signals that need be seen in their wider context. They demand concerted action by all, irrespective of our political, social or religious leanings.
But this is our challenge – in the case of the Freddie Kissoon assault, why have certain ‘big ones’ not openly condemned this deed and used their considerable resources to bring the culprit or culprits to book?
But this incident, which I believe represents a growing intolerance of the right to disagree, is part of a developing societal cancer.
The traffic accidents, irresponsible treatment of our streets, roadways, parapets and waterways, corrupt contracts and contractors who underperform and now the brutal murder of Bibi Sayman, signal a time for action. This sad incident shows that a forum to discuss how to get to the root cause is an urgent matter.
Some time ago, I wrote this administration offering the services of an international group versed in the area of moral education, but how else do we get to the root of the problem? The time for action is now – delay is dangerous. Let us rise up against this decline in standards and save our Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, JP
