Dear Editor,
As our societies evolve, notions of what is right and wrong change, sometimes they change between generations, or from one year to another or from one day to another; or as in our politics from one regime to another.
Elections time again, and those of us who suffered under the PNC years will not listen or refuse to listen to any of the things which the PNC will advocate now. As a result, some of us continue to remain silent, to prop up, to encourage, nurture the ruling party even as it evolves its own notions of right and wrong.
It was sickening last night, to read the news that President Jagdeo has decided to bring Mr Ramotar into the Office of the President and to be paid from our taxpayer funds. It was sickening to watch as Mr Ramotar accompanied the President on state occasions.
It is puzzling to wonder why the ruling Party cannot muster up its own resources to run its election campaign for Mr Ramotar. Surely, there is a wide support based in the faith based community, the business community, the entertainment community who love President Jagdeo and would have no problems endorsing Mr Ramotar using their own funds and resources. If a private sector entity wants to endorse Mr Ramotar, they can invite him to their cricket function and have him speak. The sections of the religious community who are keen to canonise the President (outside of normal state business) should not have a problem with listening to a few words or even inviting Mr Ramotar to mingle with the audience after.. shake hands, kiss babies, take pictures.
So why this charade? Can’t the PPP supporters in North America afford a plane ticket for Mr Ramotar now?
While claims of ‘it is not fair’ might sound childish. both of the other presidential candidates have said that now the elections cannot be considered fair and they have taken another turn. It would be interesting to hear what those who fought for free and fair elections say what they thought fair meant.
I asked a friend last week whether we should point out the irony in a religious organisation which had previously opposed the Casino Bill now accepting sponsorship from a Casino for one of their major events. His reply – “it is out of all our hands” reflects how many of us feel about the daily abuses of power which we witness and are immune to or do not bother with or do not think that it does not matter or that it is normal and acceptable and that we have no power.
I hope that those who love the PPP, Mr Jagdeo and Mr Ramotar would call on Mr Jagdeo and Mr Ramotar to reconsider whether their ideas of fairness are going to take Guyana forward.. there are continuous ugly manifestations of the brutality of unfairness as evidenced in the recent robberies, murders and chop ups.
Those who are concerned should now decide how they speak out or about this latest development. Audre Lorde, a woman who on learning she had cancer, said this.. “In becoming forcibly and essentially aware of my mortality, and of what I wished and wanted for my life, however short it might be, priorities and omissions became strongly etched in a merciless light, and what I most regretted were my silences. Of what had I ever been afraid? To question or to speak as I believed could have meant pain, or death. But we all hurt in so many different ways, all the time, and pain will either change or end. Death, on the other hand, is the final silence. And that might be coming quickly now, without regard for whether I had ever spoken what needed to be said, or had only betrayed myself into small silences, while I planned someday to speak, or waited for someone else’s words.
I was going to die, if not sooner then later, whether or not I had ever spoken myself. My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.”
Those who love the PPP (and/or hate the PNC and AFC and others), but who are scared and who feel that they have to accept the tyranny, to condone it.. it is up to them now to decide how they sanction this latest abuse by their loved one. Do they issue wonderful press statements? Do they boycott the events.. quietly withdraw their speaking engagements? Do they refuse invitations to events at which the abuse would be glorified?
But if the Christians, Hindus, Muslims, business people, entertainment people, sports organising people, rum shop people, other people continue to accept the abuse of their loved one, then we will no doubt continue to bear the consequences of this new idea of what is right, or of accepting that we are powerless and cannot take our destinies into our own hands.
Yours sincerely
Vidyaratha Kissoon
