Dear Editor,
Noha Tarek, an Egyptian graduate student studying political science proclaimed to a BBC reporter that she was participating in Egypt’s pro-democracy rallies for greater prosperity, peace and freedom even if her participation resulted in her death. Noha’s selfless commitment is in fact a metaphor for her belief in the Egyptian people’s ability to bring about peaceful and democratic development. In Guyana we have seen the birth of approximately 3 generations of Guyanese since independence. Our foreparents lived and worked with an unfulfilled hope that today’s generation would inherit a peaceful, prosperous and united Guyana. One in which we would have the best educational and health facilities, the best opportunities to develop our talents and a Guyana that we would want to stay and further develop.
The truth is that most of us prefer to make a living in a country other than Guyana. In fact a high percentage of graduates leave the country. I would venture to say that most of the persons leaving Guyana are young persons, and as a result most of us are indifferent to and detached from the ills of Guyana because we have either left or plan to leave. In an electoral context, we find ourselves in a situation in which our youths are hardly enthusiastic about the prospects of Guyana and there is an older population which is disillusioned, exhausted and resistant to change.
In the run-up to national elections the youths of Guyana have an opportunity to demand that our collective voice is heard and acted upon. We have the opportunity to fulfil the dreams of our foreparents for a peaceful, prosperous and united Guyana. We have the opportunity to demand and begin the transformative change irrespective of age, economic status or cultural identity. The first choice we must all make is that we will no longer accept and continue to bear the burden of outdated policies, programmes, services and social relations that our foreparents struggled so bravely to transcend. It is time that we the youths embrace collective responsibility for the future of Guyana. It is time that we organized our creative talents and resources to elect and work with a government truly of the people; a government that is wholeheartedly committed to mobilizing and empowering a nation toward prosperity, peace, cohesiveness and democracy.
Whether we choose to stand idly by or become actively involved, we will reap what we sow. Our time has come; this is our potential tipping point and opportunity to leave our imprint for a better Guyana by positively contributing to social, economic and governance discourse and initiatives. In gratitude to our foreparents, inspired by the vision and faith of Noha Tarek and with full cognizance of our ability to transform Guyana for the best, let us seize the moment! We cannot continue to point fingers and blame others when we ourselves have not displayed the courage, faith and vision to be agents of the changes we all seek.
Yours faithfully,
R Small
